FNS Documents & Resources

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, restricts participation in most food assistance programs based on citizenship and alien status. WIC is specifically exempted from these restrictions, however, states have the option to limit participation to citizens and qualified aliens. 

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.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 stipulates that able-bodied, childless adults may only receive food stamps for 3 months in a 36-month period unless they work at least 20 hours a week; participate in an approved work or training program; or live in an area that has been waived from the time limit due to either an unemployment rate higher than 10 percent, or insufficient jobs.