Sponsored Noncitizens and Public Benefits

Fed. law restricts noncitizens' access to public benefits, incl. Temporary Assist. for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assist. Program (SNAP), and Suppl. Security Income (SSI). Further, when noncitizens who legally reside in this country through sponsorship of a family member apply for these benefits, they are subject to sponsor ¿deeming¿, which requires benefit agencies to combine noncitizens' incomes with those of their sponsors to determine eligibility. This report analyzes: (1) what is known about the size of the non-citizen population potentially affected by the sponsor deeming requirements for TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, and SSI; (2) have agencies implemented sponsor deeming, and sponsor repay. Ill.