Do Illegal Immigrants Benefit From Federal Assistance Programs?

• Author: William Asher
• Posted: 2024-12-12

Most people wonder if illegal immigrants benefit from federal assistance programs. While they are technically not U.S. citizens, many of them have children or spouses who are citizens and can qualify for certain benefits. Undocumented immigrants do qualify for some programs, however. The government spends billions of dollars a year on these programs. In the case of WIC, pregnant women and undocumented immigrants can get free food and immunizations.

While there is limited federal assistance for illegal immigrants, some state and local governments also offer some form of assistance. The SNAP food stamps program offers ongoing support in the form of EBT debit cards that can be used to purchase food and other essentials. The SNAP program is especially designed for children and their families, but it's not exclusive. Another program for women, infants, and children provides free food vouchers and general nutritional counseling to eligible women and their children.

Other benefits are available to immigrants who meet certain criteria. Ineligible immigrants are allowed to collect benefits based on their contribution history. In some cases, they can still collect benefits based on their contribution history, even if they entered the country illegally. However, they must wait for five years before they can access federal assistance if they're adults. Further, the benefits they receive may be less than what they'd receive if they were legal.