Getting social help affect citizenship?

[Henia 11]

Hello, I'd like to know if a person lives in the US and receives section 8 help for housing, does this affect their petition for citizenship?

[Faycel and Renee 30]

Hello Henia,

Ive been told that if someone is on section 8 that getting an approval is hard because how can you show or provide proof that you are capable of caring for someone else.

The idea is to prove that the beneficiary can be taken care of and if someone is on welfare or receiving section 8 already says hey I cant take care of myself and the government is helping me. It also says that I depend on the government and so will my spouse. Its a government burden.

The one thing I hear is that they want that the beneficiary be NOT DEPENDENT on the government.

I hope this helps

[simps 2]

section 8 is not cosidered as a mean benefit. It totally does not effect your eligiblity for citizenship. public housing or section 8 are not cosidred welfare for clarification. Welfares are mean benefits like food stamps, medicaid and finanician help from goverment like SSI or SSDI. Immigrants are not eiligible for mean benefits but they are eligible for housing, section 8 and Finacial aid for school. Don't worry it won't effect on your case.

[Henia 11]

Thank you for that clarification Simps. Is Medical for children (insurance for children inCalifornia) considered welfare? You mentioned Medicad, which correct me if I'm wrong is for chronically ill and elderly?

Nice blog BTW!

[mimigrant 0]

Here's a link explaining in detail the difference between Medicare and Medicaid:

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/medicare-medicaid-whats-difference-29615.html

Basically:

Medicare

• Who is Eligible: Medicare covers almost everyone 65 or older, certain people on Social Security disability, and some people with permanent kidney failure.

Medicaid

• Who is Eligible: Medicaid covers low-income and financially needy people, including those over 65 who are also on Medicare.

--

To the former posters: where did you read that getting Medicaid would affect citizenship? I'm confused, as immigrants with green cards are eligible for it. Are you sure it affects the naturalization application? Do you have a reliable link stating that?

Here's a link for an explanation of Public Charge: http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge

As far as I understand from this text, Medicaid is not considered Public Charge -- unless you're on long-term institutional care:

Q. What publicly funded benefits may not be considered for public charge purposes?

(...)

Non-cash or special purpose cash benefits that are not considered for public charge purposes include:

• Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases; use of health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, and emergency medical services) other than support for long-term institutional care

(...) etc. - read on the link above the rest.

Thank you for that clarification Simps. Is Medical for children (insurance for children inCalifornia) considered welfare? You mentioned Medicad, which correct me if I'm wrong is for chronically ill and elderly?

Nice blog BTW!

Edited November 12, 2013 by themimigrant

[Henia 11]

Thank you themimigrant for the detailed explaination and links.

[mimigrant 0]

You're welcome! I hope it helps you! Good luck!

Thank you themimigrant for the detailed explaination and links.