US citizen with Medicaid-eligible to sponsor parents green card ?

[Summer78 0]

I live in Nevada and applied for Medicaid (not medicare) to help with my pregnancy last year. I am on medicaid and my child is enrolled as well. I wish to apply for my parents green card (they live in India) and am wondering if i am eligible to sponsor them being a Medicaid receipient myself ? I worked on and off thru my pregnancy and have not worked for the last 5 months as my baby is too young, i did however file taxes for last year so i do have some income reported to IRS.

[aleful 1,905]

hi

that has nothing to do, you are a USC and entitled to benefits as well as your children

immigration is based on income and assets.

since both petitions are separate and you haven't been working much, you probably will need a joint sponsor or co sponsor, but you can receive all the benefits that you want and need

[aaron2020 11,651]

You can successfully petition for your parents if you have a Joint Sponsor.

A Joint Sponsor will be needed since you are unlikely to meet the financial requirements for the I-864.

[Boiler 46,135]

You reailse your Parents can not get Medicaid?

[Summer78 0]

Thank you so much aleful and aaron2020. This clears my doubts and I can go ahead with their application.

[JohnL 4]

Your parents mau be able to get Medicaid. Here is a cut and paste from the latest USCIS fact sheet dated Nov of 2013.

Benefits Not Subject to Public Charge Consideration

Under the agency guidance, non-cash benefits and special-purpose cash benefits that are not intended for income maintenance are not subject to public charge consideration. Such benefits include:

• Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases, use of health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, prenatal care and emergency medical services) other than support for long-term institutional care
• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)- commonly referred to as Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs
• Housing benefits
• Child care services
• Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Emergency disaster relief
• Foster care and adoption assistance
• Educational assistance (such as attending public school), including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary or higher education
• Job training programs
• In-kind, community-based programs, services or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter)
• Non-cash benefits under TANF such as subsidized child care or transit subsidies
• Cash payments that have been earned, such as Title II Social Security benefits, government pensions, and veterans' benefits, and other forms of earned benefits
• Unemployment compensation

Some of the above programs may provide cash benefits, such as energy assistance, transportation or child care benefits provided under TANF or the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and one-time emergency payments under TANF. Since the purpose of such benefits is not for income maintenance, but rather to avoid the need for ongoing cash assistance for income maintenance, they are not subject to public charge consideration.

Note: In general, lawful permanent residents who currently possess a "green card" cannot be denied U.S. citizenship for lawfully receiving any public benefits for which they are eligible.

Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/15/2013

[Boiler 46,135]

The Exchanges say otherwise, not that it would be the first time there have been contradictions.

Could you post the link.

[JohnL 4]

http://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/public-charge-fact-sheet

[kzielu 1,149]

This merely says it's not going to be considered as public charge. Doesn't mean they're eligible.

[Boiler 46,135]

That is the case, if you actually sought to apply then with the exception of Emergency Medicaid you will have no joy.

[waiting sucks 3]

I believe green card holders are eligible for NY state Medicaid. I'm not sure about other states.

[belinda63 3,047]

There is a difference between becoming a public charge and receiving means-tested benefits. Any immigrant receiving means-tested benefits prior to the I-864 obligations being lifted is subjecting their sponsor to possible collection from the government for the cost of any benefits received.

"For purposes of determining inadmissibility, “public charge” means an individual who is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense."

This only deals with discussing if the immigrant can obtain a visa or green card, it has nothing to do with the I-864.

Edited February 4, 2014 by belinda63