As is commonly known, low-income families can get food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “Food Stamps,” which enables them to purchase wholesome food at approved stores in order to survive.
In order to achieve this, the program provides its beneficiaries who have already satisfied the eligibility requirements and income constraints with monthly financial resources in the form of a deposit on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
The program makes it clear that only US citizens and certain foreigners with legal residency are eligible for SNAP benefits; migrants with irregular status are not taken into account.
However, just like any other rule, there are some exceptions to SNAP, and these are as follows: humanitarian reasons.
The exceptions are explained in this manner on the program’s own website.
As long as they fulfill all other financial and non-financial SNAP eligibility conditions, they are immediately eligible in the first scenario, with no waiting period.
As long as they fulfill all other conditions, they become eligible in the second scenario following a five-year waiting period.
Instant eligibility
- Refugees
- Those who have received asylum
- Serious trafficking victims
- Deportation halted
- The Amerasians
- Haitian and Cuban participants
- Special Immigrants from Afghanistan and Iraq (SIV)
- Some Native Americans who were born outside of the country
- Members of the Laotian Highland or Hmong tribes
- Residents of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia who are members of the Compacts of Free Association (COFA).
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After five years, eligibility
- Holders of a Green Card or Legal Permanent Residents (LPR)
- Individuals who have received conditional authorization for a minimum of one year
- Entrants with conditions
- Neglected foreign nationals
Those under the age of eighteen, those who are blind or disabled and receive benefits for their condition, those who were 65 years of age or older on August 22, 1996, those with ties to the US Armed Forces, and paroled Afghans or Ukrainians are also eligible for SNAP without a waiting period, regardless of whether they fall into one of these two categories.
