 |
Limited certification periods to 12 months, except that
the certification period may be up to 24 months if all
adult household members are elderly or disabled. States
must have at least one contact with each certified
household every 12 months. |
|
|
Included in the definition of "coupon" authorization
cards, cash or checks issued in lieu of coupons, and
"access devices" for EBT systems (including EBT cards
and personal identification numbers). |
|
|
Deleted a current exemption so that children under 22
years old who live with their parents and their own
children or spouses must be included in the same
household with their parents. |
|
|
Required that annual adjustments to maximum allotments
reflect the actual change in the cost of the Thrifty
Food Plan (TFP) rather than 103% of the change,
beginning October 1, 1996. |
|
|
Required that the October 1996 adjustment to the Thrifty
Food Plan not reduce maximum benefit levels. |
|
|
Provided that persons whose primary nighttime residence
is a temporary accommodation in the home of another may
only be considered homeless if the accommodation is for
no more than 90 days. |
|
|
Explicitly permitted nonuniform standards of eligibility
for food stamps. |
|
|
Limited exclusion to the earnings of elementary and
secondary school students who are 17 or younger. |
|
|
Limited energy assistance exclusion to (1) Federal
energy assistance and (2) Federal or State one-time
assistance for weatherization or emergency repair or
replacement of heating or cooling devices. |
|
|
Retained the provision in the Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Act that requires that all expenses met with
LIHEAA payments be regarded as out-of-pocket expenses
qualifying for standard utility allowances (SUAs). |
|
|
Provided specific income inclusion for assistance under
Title IV-A of the Social Security Act (welfare block
grant) if provided as energy assistance. |
|
|
Specifically excluded State or local general assistance
which (under State law) cannot be provided in cash
directly to households. |
|
|
Considered all energy costs met with State energy
assistance as out-of-pocket expenses that qualify for
SUAs. |
|
|
Indefinitely froze the standard deduction for the 48
States and D.C. at $134 and made similar reductions for
other areas. |
|
|
Disallowed an earned income deduction for any income not
reported in a timely manner and for the public
assistance portion of income earned under a work
supplementation/support program. |
|
|
Established an optional homeless shelter allowance
deduction capped at $143. The optional deduction
replaces the current homeless shelter allowance. States
may prohibit use of the deduction for households with
extremely low shelter costs. |
|
|
Set the shelter deduction cap at $247 until December 31,
1996, $250 for January 1, 1997 through September 30,
1998, $275 for FYs 1999 and 2000, and $300 from FY 2001
on. |
|
|
Permitted States to make use of standard utility
allowances mandatory for all households if (1) the State
has developed separate standards that do and do not
include the cost of heating and cooling and (2) USDA
finds that the standards will not result in increased
Federal costs. In States without mandatory SUAs,
eliminated households' entitlement to switch between the
SUA and actual expenses during certification periods. |
|
|
Set the vehicle limit at $4650 as of October 1, 1996
with no future adjustments. |
|
|
Removed the exception for vendor payments for
transitional housing for the homeless. |
|
|
Required USDA, by 1 year after enactment, to establish a
procedure (designed not to increase Federal costs)
whereby States can submit a method to be approved by
USDA for determining reasonable estimates, instead of
the actual costs, of producing self-employment income. |
|
|
Doubled penalties for recipient fraud from 6 months to 1
year for the first violation and 1 to 2 years for the
second violation (and the first violation involving
trading of a controlled substance). |
|
|
Permanently disqualified persons convicted of
trafficking in food stamp benefits of $500 or more |
|
|
Made ineligible (1) individuals who refuse without good
cause to provide sufficient information to allow a
determination of their employment status or job
availability, (2) all individuals (in addition to heads
of households) who voluntarily and without good cause
quit a job, and (3) individuals who voluntarily and
without good cause reduce their work effort (and, after
the reduction, are working less than 30 hours a week).
Deleted lack of adequate child care as an explicit good
cause exemption for refusal to meet work requirements. |
|
|
Provided a State option to disqualify the household if
the head of household is disqualified under a work rule
for a period determined by the State that cannot exceed
the lesser of the duration of the individual's
ineligibility or 180 days. |
|
|
Established new mandatory minimum disqualification
periods for individuals who fail to comply with work or
workfare requirements: |
|
|
|
-- |
For the first violation, until the later of the date
they comply with work rules, 1 month, or a period
determined by the State not to exceed 3 months. |
|
-- |
For the second violation, until the later of the date
they fulfill work rules, 3 months, or a period
determined by the State not to exceed 6 months. |
|
-- |
For a third or subsequent violation, until the later of
the date they fulfill work rules, 6 months, a date
determined by the State, or, at State option,
permanently. |
|
|
|
Required USDA to determine the meaning of good cause,
voluntarily quitting, and reducing work effort. |
|
|
Required States to determine (1) meaning of other terms,
(2) procedures for establishing compliance, and (3)
whether individuals are complying. None of States'
determinations can be less restrictive than comparable
determinations under Title IV-A of the Social Security
Act. |
|
|
Permitted States, which have had waivers denied by
August 1, 1996, to lower the age at which a child
exempts a parent/caretaker from food stamp work rules
from 6 years old to not under 1 year old for a period of
not more than 3 year |
|
|
Streamlined administrative requirements for States by
(1) requiring E&T components to be delivered through a
Statewide workforce development system, if available;
(2) expanding the existing State option to apply work
rules to applicants to include all work requirements
(now limited to job search); (3) removing the
requirement that job search components be comparable to
those under Title IV-A; (4) removing requirements that
E&T components serve a useful public purpose and use
recipients' prior training and experience; (5) removing
specific Federal rules as to States' authority to exempt
categories of individuals and individuals from E&T
requirements; (6) removing the requirement to serve
volunteers in E&T programs; (7) removing the requirement
for conciliation procedures for resolution of disputes
involving participation in an E&T program; (8) removing
the requirement that reimbursements for dependent care
are at least as high as the dependent care deduction
cap; and (9) removing requirements for E&T performance
standards. |
|
|
Other provisions make clear that work is a purpose of
E&T programs and limit E&T funding for services to Title
IV-A recipients to the amount used by the State for AFDC
recipients in FY 95. |
|
|
E&T funding established as follows: FY 96--$75 million,
FY 97--$79 million, FY 98--$81 million, FY 99--$84
million, FY 00--$86 million, FY 01--$88 million, and FY
02--$90 million.
o Required that States' allocations of 100% E&T funds be
based on a reasonable formula determined by USDA that
considers each State's population of individuals subject
to the new work requirement. |
|
|
Extended 50% E&T funding to costs for case management or
casework to facilitate the transition from economic
dependency to self-sufficiency through work. |
|
|
Provided States the option to count all of the income of
aliens ineligible under the Food Stamp Act as available
to their households. |
|
|
Allowed States the option to extend disqualifications
for failure to perform actions required by other
means-tested programs to the FSP. |
|
|
Made ineligible for 10 years individuals that
fraudulently misrepresent their identity or residence in
order to receive multiple food stamp benefits. |
|
|
Made fleeing felons and probation/parole violators
ineligible for the program. |
|
|
Permitted States to require cooperation with the Child
Support Enforcement (CSE) Program as a condition of
eligibility for the FSP for applicants or participants
who live with and exercise parental control over
children under 18 years of age who have absent parents
that are not providing appropriate support. Cooperation
entails establishing paternity of the children and
obtaining support for themselves or the child. |
|
|
Permitted States to establish payment of
legally-obligated child support as a condition of food
stamp eligibility for non-custodial parents. Neither
custodial nor non-custodial parents could be charged a
fee or other cost for CSE services. |
|
|
Provided States an option to disqualify individuals who
are in arrears in court-ordered child support unless a
court is allowing delayed payments or payments are being
made in accordance with a court- or CSE-approved payment
plan. |
|
|
Established new work requirement under which ABAWD’s
would be ineligible to continue to receive food stamps
if they receive food stamps for 3 months in a preceding
36-month period while they did not work at least 20
hours per week (averaged monthly), participate in a
workfare or approved E&T program, or did not participate
in a work program for at least 20 hours a week. |
|
|
Exempted individuals from new work requirement who are:
(1) under 18 or over 50 years of age, (2) medically
certified as unfit physically or mentally for
employment, (3) members of households responsible for
dependent children, (4) pregnant, or (5) otherwise
exempt from work requirements. |
|
|
Individuals denied eligibility under the new work rule
can regain eligibility by working or participating in
work programs 80 hours in a 30-day period or complying
with a workfare program for 30 days. If individuals lose
this employment or cease participation in work or
workfare programs, participation can continue for up to
3 consecutive months from the date the State is notified
that work has ended. |
|
|
On a State's request, USDA may waive application of the
new work requirement to any group of individuals if USDA
determines that the area where they reside (1) has an
unemployment rate over 10 percent or (2) does not have a
sufficient number of jobs to provide them employment.
USDA must report the basis for any waiver to Congress. |
|
|
Provided that States must implement EBT systems before
October 1, 2002, unless USDA waives the requirement
because a State faces unusual barriers to
implementation. |
|
|
Permitted States (subject to Federal standards) to
procure and implement an EBT system under the terms,
conditions, and design the State considers appropriate,
adds a new requirement for Federal procurement
standards, and deletes the requirement for USDA's prior
approval. |
|
|
Added a provision that EBT systems should follow
generally accepted operating rules based on commercial
technology, the need to permit interstate operation and
law enforcement monitoring, and the need to permit
monitoring and investigations by law enforcement
agencies. |
|
|
Deleted the requirement that EBT systems be cost neutral
in any 1 year and be on-line systems. |
|
|
Added requirements that USDA's EBT standards include (1)
measures to maximize security and (2) effective not
later than 2 years after enactment and to the extent
practicable, measures to permit EBT systems to
differentiate among eligible and ineligible food items. |
|
|
Added a requirement that regulations regarding the
replacement of benefits and liability for replacement
under an EBT system be similar to those in effect for a
paper food stamp issuance system. |
|
|
Permitted States to collect a charge for replacing EBT
cards by reducing allotments. |
|
|
Permitted States to require that EBT cards contain a
photograph of one or more household members and requires
that, if a State requires a photograph, it must
establish procedures to ensure that other appropriate
members of the household and authorized representatives
may use the card. |
|
|
Exempted food stamp EBT systems from Regulation E. |
|
|
Prohibited companies from providing EBT services on
condition that customers obtain, or not obtain, some
additional point-of-sale service from the company or any
affiliate. Requires consultation with the Federal
Reserve before promulgating regulations. |
|
|
Endorsed States operating EBT systems that are
compatible with other States' systems. |
|
|
Eliminated the periodic adjustment in the minimum
benefit. |
|
|
Required proration of allotments following any break in
participation. |
|
|
Made the issuing of combined allotments (pro-rated first
month's allotment plus full second month's allotment) to
regular and expedited service applicants a State option. |
|
|
Prohibited an increase in food stamp benefits when a
household's income is reduced because of a penalty
imposed under a Federal, State, or local means-tested
public assistance program for failure to perform a
required action. Provides a State option to reduce
allotments 25% or less. If the allotment is reduced for
failure to perform an action required under a Title IV-A
program, the State may use the rules of that program to
reduce the food stamp allotment. |
|
|
Permitted States to divide a month's food stamp benefits
between a drug or alcoholic treatment center and a
resident if the resident leaves the center. |
|
|
Permitted States to require the resident to designate
the treatment center as his/her authorized
representative. |
|
|
Required that USDA, or State or local officials
designated by USDA, conduct pre-authorization visits to
firms selected by USDA based on factors including size,
location, and types of items sold. |
|
|
Required USDA to establish specific time periods during
which retailers' and wholesalers' authorizations to
accept and redeem food stamp benefits will be valid. |
|
|
Authorized requiring applicant retailers and wholesalers
to submit relevant income and sales tax filing
documents. |
|
|
Permitted regulations requiring retailers and
wholesalers to provide written authorization for USDA to
verify all relevant tax filings. |
|
|
Required retailers or wholesalers that are denied
approval to accept and redeem food stamp benefits
because they do not meet approval criteria to wait at
least 6 months before submitting a new application. USDA
may establish a longer time period, including permanent
disqualification, that reflects the severity of the
basis for the denial. |
|
|
Replaced many current client service requirements with
broad requirements that States establish procedures that
best serve households in the State including households
with special needs (elderly, disabled, rural poor,
homeless, households on reservations, and people who do
not speak or read English); provide timely, accurate,
and fair customer service to all applicants and
recipients; and develop applications containing
necessary information. |
|
|
Permitted States to establish operating procedures that
vary for local food stamp offices. |
|
|
Made clear that nothing in the Food Stamp Act prohibits
electronic storage of application and other information,
including signatures. |
|
|
Deleted requirements for a uniform national application,
placing information about rights and responsibilities on
the application, waiving office interviews for elderly
or disabled applicants and households with
transportation or other difficulties, and providing
telephone or mail information to households that have
transportation difficulties or similar hardships. |
|
|
Deleted requirements that States (1) inform applicants
how to cooperate in completing the application process
including obtaining verification, (2) assist applicants
in obtaining verification and completing applications,
(3) use current verified information already available,
and (4) not deny applications for failure of
non-household members to cooperate. |
|
|
Deleted requirements that States provide a description
of reporting requirements at certification and
recertification; and provide a toll-free, local, or
collect telephone number that households may use to
reach the State. |
|
|
Deleted requirements for displaying posters and
providing materials in food stamp and PA offices about
nutrition and eligibility for other USDA nutrition
programs, using mail issuance in rural areas or other
areas where low-income households face transportation
problems, conducting a single interview when households
apply for both food stamps and AFDC, combining food
stamp applications with PA and Statewide general
assistance (GA) applications, providing food stamp
applications and information at local GA offices if the
same agency administers GA and PA, and using verified
information available in PA/GA files. |
|
|
Deleted Federal requirements for States' employee
training. |
|
|
Required States to provide households' addresses, social
security numbers, or photographs to law enforcement
officers to assist them in locating fugitive felons or
probation/parole violators. |
|
|
Increased the number of days which States have to
provide expedited service from 5 to 7 calendar days. |
|
|
Eliminated households consisting entirely of homeless
people from those categories of households entitled to
receive expedited service. |
|
|
At State option, permitted households to withdraw
(orally or in writing) requests for fair hearings.
States must follow-up oral requests with a written
notice providing households with an opportunity to
request a hearing. |
|
|
Made use of the income and eligibility verification
system (IEVS) and the immigration status verification
system (SAVE) optional. |
|
|
Required USDA to issue regulations to authorize as bases
for retailer disqualifications evidence of violations
obtained other than through on-site investigations; such
as, inconsistent redemption data, or evidence obtained
through a transaction report under an EBT system. |
|
|
Disqualified (up to permanently) retailers who knowingly
submit applications for authorization that contains
false information about substantive matters. |
|
|
Disqualified from the FSP retailers and wholesalers that
are disqualified from the WIC Program. Disqualification
must be for the same period as under WIC, may begin at a
later date, and would not be subject to food stamp
administrative/judicial review procedures. |
|
|
Replaced existing overissuance collection rules with
provisions requiring States to collect any overissuance
by allotment reduction, withholding unemployment
compensation, recovering from Federal pay or income tax
refunds, or any other means unless the State
demonstrates that all of the means are not cost
effective. |
|
|
Limited benefit reductions for non-fraud and State error
claims to the greater of 10% of the monthly allotment or
$10 a month. |
|
|
Required States to establish requirements for notice,
electing a means of payment, and setting a schedule for
payment concerning collection of overissuances. |
|
|
Permitted States to retain 20% of nonfraud collections
other than those arising from State error and 35% of
fraud collections |
|
|
Required that permanent disqualification of a retailer
or wholesaler be effective from the date of receipt of
the notice of disqualification. USDA is not liable for
the value of lost sales if the disqualification is
reversed through administrative or judicial review. |
|
|
Required forfeiture of all property (real and personal)
used in a transaction (or attempted transaction) to
commit (or facilitate the commission of) a trafficking
violation (other than a misdemeanor). Proceeds traceable
to the violation would also be subject to forfeiture. An
owner's property interest would not be subject to
forfeiture if the owner establishes that the violation
was committed without the owner's knowledge or consent. |
|
|
Required that the proceeds from any sale of forfeited
property and any money forfeited be used to reimburse
first, DOJ; second, OIG; and, third, Federal and State
law enforcement agencies for costs and, finally, to
carry out FCS' authorization and compliance activities. |
|
|
Terminated the Federal share for any outreach
"recruitment activities". |
|
|
Removed redundant requirements that USDA establish
standards for efficient and effective program
administration. |
|
|
Provided a State option to use a PA household's food
stamp benefits to subsidize a job for a household member
in the State's Work Supplementation or Support Program (WSSP).
The household would not receive an allotment for the
period during which the member participates in WSSP. |
|
|
|
-- |
The program must adhere to standards set by USDA, be
available for new employees only, and not displace other
employment. |
|
-- |
The food stamp benefit portion of the supplement could
not be considered income for other purposes. |
|
-- |
States must describe in their State plans how recipients
in the program will, within a specific period of time,
be moved to non-WSSP employment. |
|
|
|
Permitted USDA to waive Food Stamp Act requirements to
conduct pilot or experimental projects that are
consistent with the program's goal of providing food to
increase the level of nutrition of needy families. USDA
is permitted to conduct projects that will improve
administration of the program, increase self-sufficiency
of participants, test innovative welfare reform
strategies, or allow greater conformity between
programs. |
|
|
Limited waiver projects that reduce benefits more than
20% for more than 5% of households in the area subject
to the project to (1) including no more than 15% of the
State's food stamp caseload and (2) running for a
maximum of 5 years (unless USDA approves an extension). |
|
|
Waiver projects must be evaluated and limited to
specific time periods. |
|
|
Prohibited waivers that would cash-out benefits (beyond
those approved prior to enactment), substantially
transfer program funds to other public assistance
programs, or use food stamp funds for any purpose other
than food, program administration, or E&T. |
|
|
Required that waivers must be consistent with the
following provisions of the Food Stamp Act: |
|
|
|
-- |
household definition: eligibility/ineligibility of
institutionalized individuals |
|
-- |
disqualification for nonfinancial eligibility criteria
other than those related to work, behavior, or conduct |
|
-- |
gross income limits for non-elderly/disabled |
|
-- |
work requirements: exemption based on care of a child
under 6 or an incapacitated person, required hours of
E&T participation, funding limit for services to Title
IV-A recipients set at the amount used by the State for
AFDC recipients in FY 95 |
|
-- |
exclusion of the value of benefits for the purpose of
computing income/resources for other assistance programs
or taxation |
|
-- |
provision of timely, accurate, and fair service |
|
-- |
development of applications with necessary information |
|
-- |
ability to apply at first contact with food stamp office |
|
-- |
same-day application filing |
|
-- |
certifications by adult household representatives as to
truth of application information and citizenship status |
|
-- |
participation by homeless |
|
-- |
variable office procedures to reflect differences within
States |
|
-- |
30-day processing of applications |
|
-- |
administrative cost sharing and QC |
|
-- |
limitation on demonstration project authority |
|
-- |
workfare authority and funding |
|
|
|
Prohibited waivers that increase shelter deductions for
households with no out-of-pocket housing costs or costs
that are small relative to income. |
|
|
Prohibited waivers that absolve States from acting with
reasonable promptness on substantial reported changes in
income or household size (but not deduction changes). |
|
|
Prohibited waivers of Simplified Food Stamp Program (SFSP)
provisions. |
|
|
Required USDA to approve, deny, or request clarification
of waivers within 60 days or legal waivers will be
deemed approved. |
|
|
Required USDA to provide copies of denied waivers and
grounds for denial to Congressional Committees. |
|
|
Provided an option for States in which at least 50% of
the food stamp caseload in the summer of 1993 also
received AFDC to provide certain households with cash in
lieu of food stamps. |
|
|
In such States specified in the foregoing paragraph,
provided a household option to receive cash food stamp
benefits if an adult member elects to participate and
(1) has worked in unsubsidized employment at least the
last 90 days, earned at least $350 per month for at
least the last 90 days, and is continuing to do so, and
(2) is eligible for Title IV-A benefits or becomes
ineligible because of earnings. |
|
|
Required States to provide USDA a written evaluation
(content determined by States with USDA's concurrence)
of the impact of cash in lieu of food stamp assistance
after operating 2 years under this provision. |
|
|
Required States that select the foregoing cash in lieu
of food stamps option to increase benefits to compensate
for State or local sales taxes on food purchases and to
pay the cost of increased benefits. |
|
|
Reauthorized the FSP through FY 2002. |
|
|
Allowed States to operate a Simplified Food Stamp
Program (SFSP) throughout the State or in political
subdivisions of a State for households in which all
members receive Title IV-A. Such households are
categorically eligible for the SFSP unless USDA
determines that households with income above 130% of the
poverty guidelines are eligible for Title IV-A. Under
SFSPs, food stamp benefits would be determined using
Title IV-A rules and procedures, regular FSP rules and
procedures, or a combination of the two. Non public
assistance (NPA) households cannot be included in SFSPs
and mixed NPA/public assistance households can only be
included with USDA approval. |
|
|
To operate a SFSP, the State must have a plan for
operation of the program approved by USDA. USDA is
required to approve plans that (1) comply with certain
rules of the Food Stamp Act, and (2) would not increase
Federal costs for any fiscal year. |
|
|
Required USDA to determine if a SFSP is increasing
Federal costs but prohibited USDA from requiring States
to report information on households not included in
SFSPs. Authorized USDA to approve State requests to use
alternative accounting periods. |
|
|
If a State's SFSP is determined to be increasing Federal
costs and the State does not submit and/or carry out a
corrective action plan, USDA is required to end the SFSP.
States with terminated SFSPs are ineligible to operate
SFSPs in the future. |
|
|
States operating a SFSP can standardize deductions by
considering work expenses, dependent care costs, and
shelter costs. |
|
|
SFSPs must comply with the following statutory FSP
requirements: |
|
|
|
-- |
issuance procedures, except for staggering of benefits |
|
-- |
use of TFP as the basis of benefits, calculation of
benefits using the 30% benefit reduction rate, and
provision of a minimum allotment to one- and two-person
households |
|
-- |
prohibitions against counting food stamp benefits as
income or resources under any other Federal, State, or
local law and against increasing a household's benefit
due to a decrease in other public assistance or welfare
benefits caused by the household's intentional violation
of the rules of another public assistance or welfare
program; |
|
-- |
States' responsibility for certification, issuance, and
record retention; anti-discrimination protections;
submission and approval of plans of operation and
administration of the FSP on Indian reservations; and
measures to prevent receipt of duplicate benefits |
|
-- |
limits on the use and disclosure of information about
food stamp households; submission of required reports
and other information; reporting illegal aliens to INS;
optional use of IEVS and SAVE; optional extension of
disqualifications of other means-tested programs; SFSP
provisions |
|
-- |
fair hearings |
|
-- |
QC |
|
|
|
If a State elects to carry out an SFSP, its plans for
operating the SFSP must include the rules and procedures
to be followed in determining food stamp benefits, how
the needs of households with high shelter costs will be
addressed, and a description of its QC system. |
|
|
Required USDA to study (in consultation with the
National Academy of Sciences and the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention) the use of food stamps to
purchase vitamins and minerals, including (1) an
analysis of the scientific findings on the need for
vitamins/minerals, (2) the cost of
commercially-available vitamins/minerals, (3) the
vitamin/mineral purchasing habits of low-income people,
(4) the impact of purchasing vitamins/minerals on food
purchases, and (5) the economic impact on agriculture of
permitting the purchase of vitamins/minerals with food
stamps. Requires report to Congress by 12/15/98. |
|
|
Included statements that States cannot be prohibited
from sanctioning adults in food stamp households who
fail to ensure that their minor dependent children
attend school as required by State law or are themselves
21-50 years old and do not have, or are not working
toward, a high school diploma or recognized equivalent
unless such adult has been determined medically unable
to do so. |
|
|
Made ineligible individuals convicted of Federal or
State felonies for possession, use, or distribution of
illegal drugs after the date of enactment. |
|
|
Did not consider individuals disqualified under the
foregoing paragraph to be household members but
attributed their income and resources to their
households. |
|
|
Required applicants to state, in writing, whether any
household member has been convicted of drug felonies. |
|
|
Permitted States to opt out of the provision, denying
benefits for certain drug-related convictions, by
enacting laws after the date of the enactment exempting
individuals or limiting the disqualification period. |
|
|
Prohibited increasing benefits to individuals whose
income decreases due to fraud under a Federal, State, or
local means-tested welfare or public assistance program. |
|
|
Made aliens who are not qualified aliens (defined in the
seventh paragraph below) ineligible for the Food Stamp
Program. |
|
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Limited food stamp eligibility of qualified aliens to
those that meet the following exceptions: |
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for 5 years, certain refugees, certain aliens granted
asylum, and aliens whose deportation is withheld |
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permanent resident aliens who have worked for 40
qualifying quarters (for any quarters worked after
January 1, 1997, aliens cannot have received any Federal
means-tested public benefit) |
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veterans with honorable discharges not related to their
alien status and aliens on active duty or the spouses or
unmarried dependent children of such veterans or aliens |
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Grandfathered currently-participating aliens until their
recertifications or 1 year after the date of enactment,
whichever is first. |
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Required notification to the public and to recipients of
the alien eligibility changes in the legislation. |
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Required deeming an alien's sponsor's income and
resources and the sponsor's spouse's income and
resources to the alien until the alien becomes a citizen
or works 40 qualifying quarters during which he/she does
not receive any Federal mean-tested public benefit. |
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Required States to review the deemed income and
resources each time an alien reapplies. |
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Made the deeming requirement effective for any
eligibility determination or redetermination after
enactment. |
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Defined qualified aliens as: |
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aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence |
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certain aliens granted asylum |
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certain refugees |
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certain aliens paroled for a period of at least 1 year |
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certain aliens whose deportation is being withheld |
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certain aliens granted conditional entry. |
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Required States to have in effect by 24 months after
regulations are promulgated by DOJ (after consultation
with DHHS) systems that can verify that alien applicants
are qualified to receive Federal public benefits. |
