FNS Documents & Resources

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.

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.

Noncitizens who were receiving food stamps on Aug. 22, 1996, will not lose benefits due to their immigration status until at least April 22, 1997. If, for example, a person moves to another state or has a break in eligibility because of something unrelated to his or her noncitizen status (such as a temporary increase in earnings) and applies again before April 1, 1997, the new noncitizen eligibility requirements would not apply.

The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act makes a significant change to implementation of the food stamp eligibility provisions for noncitizens of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.