The Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 under the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 extended Afghani Special Immigrant eligibility for SNAP benefits from six months to eight months.
The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify FNS policy on whether verification of a sponsor's income and resources is needed to determine if an immigrant is indigent for SNAP purposes.
FNS guidance of March 20, 2008 provided that the eligibility of Afghani Special Immigrants was in effect through Sept. 30, 2008 under The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008.
Policy Household Member's Name Differs from the Name Contained on the Earnings Statement Used to Verify Income.
This memorandum sets forth the adjustments to be made by states operating Combined Application Projects.
Cost-of-Living adjustments to the SNAP allotments, deductions, income eligibility standards for the 48 states, D.C., Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
In light of recent legislative changes, FNS is issuing the following new guidance on the eligibility of Iraqi and Afghani special immigrants. Due to these changes in legislation, Iraqis are now treated somewhat differently than Afghanis. Because FNS has updated its policy interpretation on how to treat these special immigrants, this new guidance supersedes our previous guidance on Iraqi and Afghani Special immigrants issued on Jan. 24, 2008.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 granted Iraqi and Afghan aliens special immigrant status under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Individuals and family members granted this special immigrant status are eligible for resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits the same as refugees admitted under the INA, except the period of eligibility cannot exceed six months.
The categories of noncitizens eligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 have been expanded to include the minor children, spouses and in some cases the parents and siblings of victims of severe trafficking.
This memorandum supplements our Reauthorization Implementation Memo SP 4 by providing additional information on identifying migrant children and on the procedures that school food authorities and local education agencies should use to coordinate with the Migrant Education Program in order to document the categorical eligibility of migrant children for free meals.