Does getting Medicaid through government ( to avoid Obamacare fines) affect me when I apply for a citizenship?

[nintendonana 9]

I am on a green card right now. Because of hard times after a business failure, I went on food stamps and I applied for Medicaid few months ago. I am not on food stamps anymore, but I was reading through some old threads on Visa Journey and I was shocked to hear that Medicaid is considered a public charge. Should I cancel my Medicaid so that it won't affect me when I apply for citizenship? I have only been getting it for past 4-5 months. I would rather just pay the Obamacare fines if it's going to affect me negatively when I apply for citizenship.

 

[s + j 71]

Are you the immigrant? Did you come through marriage based visa or family? I'm pretty sure if so that you aren't allowed to get food stamps or Medicare.

[nintendonana 9]

2 minutes ago, s + j said:

Are you the immigrant? Did you come through marriage based visa or family? I'm pretty sure if so that you aren't allowed to get food stamps or Medicare.

Thanks for your answer. Wow. Really? I am an immigrant. One of my aunts who moved here in the 70s sponsored our family  ( My father, mother, me and my brother) . We came here in early 2000. I feel so stupid right now for not knowing that. Should I cancel my Medicaid? Does this mean that I am in danger of never becoming a US citizen?

[geowrian 22,337]

When did you first receive Medicaid? How long had you been working as an LPR at the time?

[s + j 71]

3 minutes ago, nintendonana said:

Thanks for your answer. Wow. Really? I am an immigrant. One of my aunts who moved here in the 70s sponsored our family  ( My father, mother, me and my brother) . We came here in early 2000. I feel so stupid right now for not knowing that. Should I cancel my Medicaid? Does this mean that I am in danger of never becoming a US citizen?

Well she did file the affidavit of support right? That cancels out once you become a citizen, which means you are legally connected to her income if yours is insufficient. I could be wrong, someone will correct me if so. 

 

But VisaJourney has all your answers! There's a little google search box that can give you your answers. I believe -I might be wrong- once you become a citizen you'll be obligated to pay back to the state. 

 

This is might be worth a read. According to that, it seems only the first 5 years. So you might be fine! :-)

 

Edited March 12, 2017 by s + j

[nintendonana 9]

I came here in 2000. That's the same date I received my Green card: Feb 16,2000. Graduated in 2006. Has been working as a consultant engineer since 2008 period. Resigned my job in 2015 and did some real estate investing which didn't go as planned ( it failed ). Fell on hard times and applied for food stamps and received it for maybe 6 months ( total of $700 approximately ) As far as Medicaid, I been getting it for about the same time period - 7-8 months for $0/mo. 

[yuna628 9,680]

Medicaid/Medicare is generally off-limits to immigrants until 40 quarters of work or within five years.

[geowrian 22,337]

18 minutes ago, nintendonana said:

I came here in 2000. That's the same date I received my Green card: Feb 16,2000. Graduated in 2006. Has been working as a consultant engineer since 2008 period. Resigned my job in 2015 and did some real estate investing which didn't go as planned ( it failed ). Fell on hard times and applied for food stamps and received it for maybe 6 months ( total of $700 approximately ) As far as Medicaid, I been getting it for about the same time period - 7-8 months for $0/mo. 

Thanks for the details.

 

I think you'll be fine for Medicaid since that only has a 5 year waiting period (https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/). However, SNAP may be an issue because you must have been working for 40 quarters (10 years) to qualify: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/snap-policy-non-citizen-eligibility. However, your state may have different requirements...NY has a 5 year waiting period according to a quick search. As long as you met the requirements to receive the aid, then it shouldn't impact your citizenship eligibility.

[nintendonana 9]

13 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Thanks for the details.

 

I think you'll be fine for Medicaid since that only has a 5 year waiting period (https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/). However, SNAP may be an issue because you must have been working for 40 quarters (10 years) to qualify: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/snap-policy-non-citizen-eligibility. However, your state may have different requirements...NY has a 5 year waiting period according to a quick search. As long as you met the requirements to receive the aid, then it shouldn't impact your citizenship eligibility.

 

 

 

Thanks for your answer geowrian. I think I have a problem. Thanks for explaining about the Medicaid and the healthcare.gov website link. But I think that I might run into issues with applying for SNAP. If I am not mistaken, I think I have applied for SNAP once when I was in Texas for a short while back in 2009 and then the recent one in 2016. But I don't think I have 40 quarters exactly because I have been working as a consultant and there have been certain lengthy periods where I was without a job and had to go on Unemployment benefits. Because of these reasons I don't think I have 40 quarters under my belt. Now I am getting worried. In case, I wasn't qualified for SNAP ( even though the Social services officer told me I was ), what could happen? Will this barr me from ever applying for citizenship? 

Edited March 12, 2017 by nintendonana

[geowrian 22,337]

25 minutes ago, nintendonana said:

Thanks for your answer geowrian. I think I have a problem. Thanks for explaining about the Medicaid and the healthcare.gov website link. But I think that I might run into issues with applying for SNAP. If I am not mistaken, I think I have applied for SNAP once when I was in Texas for a short while back in 2009 and then the recent one in 2016. But I don't think I have 40 quarters exactly because I have been working as a consultant and there have been certain lengthy periods where I was without a job and had to go on Unemployment benefits. Because of these reasons I don't think I have 40 quarters under my belt. Now I am getting worried. In case, I wasn't qualified for SNAP ( even though the Social services officer told me I was ), what could happen? Will this barr me from ever applying for citizenship? 

Agreed, the 40 working quarters would be an issue. But individual states have their own rules as well. I don't know Texas' rules, especially back in 2009, sorry. That may or may not need to be repaid first based upon that state's rules. As I noted, many only have a 5 year waiting period (and not 40 working quarters).

 

Unemployment compensation shouldn't be an issue as it's based on what you've paid into the system (via unemployment insurance) and is not a means-tested benefit (https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/can-filing-for-unemployment-benefits-if-u-are-a-gr-608161.html).

Edited March 12, 2017 by geowrian

[nintendonana 9]

4 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Agreed, the 40 working quarters would be an issue. But individual states have their own rules as well. I don't know Texas' rules, especially back in 2009, sorry. That may or may not need to be repaid first based upon that state's rules. As I noted, many only have a 5 year waiting period (and not 40 working quarters).

 

Unemployment compensation shouldn't be an issue as it's based on what you've paid into the system (via unemployment insurance) and is not a means-tested benefit (https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/can-filing-for-unemployment-benefits-if-u-are-a-gr-608161.html).

 

Thank you geowrian. I have been in this country for over 17 years now, so I feel stupid to have not known these things before. Please correct me if I wrong: So according to the rules, if worse comes to worse, I can still apply for Naturalization ( Citizenship ), if I pay them back what I received from SNAP? They won't kick me out of the country because I received food stamps for a while?( to put it bluntly ) 

[geowrian 22,337]

6 minutes ago, nintendonana said:

Thank you geowrian. I have been in this country for over 17 years now, so I feel stupid to have not known these things before. Please correct me if I wrong: So according to the rules, if worse comes to worse, I can still apply for Naturalization ( Citizenship ), if I pay them back what I received from SNAP? They won't kick me out of the country because I received food stamps for a while?( to put it bluntly ) 

No point worrying about the past.

 

If you received benefits that you were not actually eligible to obtain, it may result in the denial of your application. That said, if you were truthful on the forms, then I don't think that's a "good moral character" issue (IMHO). But I'm not USCIS. I'll defer to others with more experience on that topic.

 

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/will-receiving-public-benefits-hurt-your-chances-us-citizenship.html

[nintendonana 9]

That's very true. I need a lot of prayers. I am definitely applying for citizenship in the next few months. Can you tell me where I can see how long it'll take for a LPR to become a citizen? I am fairly new to posting on this site. So I don't know where I can find information in regards to timelines.

[geowrian 22,337]

6 minutes ago, nintendonana said:

That's very true. I need a lot of prayers. I am definitely applying for citizenship in the next few months. Can you tell me where I can see how long it'll take for a LPR to become a citizen? I am fairly new to posting on this site. So I don't know where I can find information in regards to timelines.

Good luck!

 

It seems to be taking about 7 months for processing currently:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/citstats.php?cfl=

[beejerson805 6]

As a LPR, obtaining any non-cash benefits such as medicaid, is NOT grounds for being considered a public charge and generally cannot be taken into account when applying for citizenship.  I have attached here the link to the Public Charge fact sheet on the USCIS website which breaks down a list of what is taken into account for grounds of public charge and which are not.  https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge.  You can also request a benefit verification letter from the SSA to prove that you have not received any other benefits which can be linked to a public charge status.  As far as qualifying credits, you would need to check with the SSA, request you're annual record or at SSA.gov and any and all entitlement you would have will be displayed.  Depending on how many jobs, or hours you work/ed you may have already met that requirement.  I hope this helps.