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Housing and homeless programs help low-income Massachusetts households find housing and pay their rent, and offer prevention services and emergency shelter for the homeless. Most federally-funded programs only offer benefits to certain categories of noncitizens. State-funded and non-profit programs are usually open to anyone, including undocumented noncitizens.

More info and source: http://www.massresources.org/pages.cfm?ContentID=57&pageID=18&Subpages='yes'&DynamicID=740

In California, many Medi-Cal services and other public benefits are already available to illegal immigrants, with or without a valid ID [Matricula Card]. Nearly one-third of California's illegal aliens -- more than any other state -- already receive some form of government assistance. The possession of the matricula can only serve to exacerbate this problem.

More info and source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/08/26/ED8980.DTL&type=printable

. Food Stamps
“Qualified aliens” are ineligible for Food Stamps for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of an alien’s entry into the United States. (Sec 402 (a))

Exceptions to the 5-year ban on Food Stamps:

Children (under 18 years old). (Sec 402(a)(2)(J))
Aliens who were lawfully residing in the U.S. and were age 65 or older on August 22, 1996. (Sec 402(a)(2)(I))
Aliens who are receiving assistance for blindness or disability. (Sec 402(a)(2)(F))
Certain Indians. (Sec 402(a)(2)(G))
Certain Hmong and Highland Laotians. (Sec 402(a)(2)(K))
Refugees and Asylees, aliens whose deportation is being withheld, Amerasians, and Cuban/Haitian entrants, and victims of a severe form of trafficking. (Sec 402(a)(2)(A))
Veterans, members of the military on active duty, and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. (Sec 402(a)(2)(C))
Legal Permanent Residents who have worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage. After 12/31/96, no quarter can be considered a “qualifying quarter” if the individual is receiving a “federal meanstested public benefit.” (See Section D below for the definition) Quarters worked by parents when the alien was a child, or by a spouse while married, may be counted by spouses and dependent children as satisfying the 40 quarter requirement. (Sec 402(a)(2)(B))

More info and source: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/immigration/restrictions-sum.htm#sec1

Supplemental Security Income
Most qualified aliens who enter the US on or after August 22, 1996 are ineligible for SSI until they become U.S. citizens, which generally requires at least five years residency. (Sec 402(a))

Exceptions to the ban on SSI:

All aliens who were receiving SSI on August 22, 1996, retain eligibility for SSI (Sec 402(a)(2)(E) and Sec 401(b)(5)) and, if related to SSI receipt, Medicaid benefits. (Sec 402(b)(2)(F))
Qualified aliens lawfully residing in the US on August 22, 1996, who were not receiving SSI but are or become disabled in the future will also be eligible. (Sec 402(a)(2)(F))
Refugees and Asylees, aliens whose deportation is being withheld, Amerasians, and Cuban/Haitian entrants, and victims of a severe form of trafficking are exempted from the ban on SSI for their first 7 years in the U.S. (Sec 402(a)(2)(A))
Veterans, members of the military on active duty, and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. (Sec 402(a)(2)(C))
Legal Permanent Residents who have worked 40 qualifying quarters. After 12/31/96, no quarter can be considered a “qualifying quarter” if the individual received a “federal meanstested public benefit” during the quarter (See section D below for the definition of “federal meanstested public benefit”) Quarters worked by parents when the alien was a child, or by a spouse while married, may be counted by spouses and dependent children as satisfying the 40 quarter requirement. (Sec 402(a)(2)(B))

Source: Same as above

NOTE: "qualified Alein" is often an illegal alien.........

Qualified aliens include (Sec 431):

Legal Permanent Residents
Asylees
Refugees
Aliens paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
Aliens whose deportations are being withheld
Aliens granted conditional entry (prior to April 1, 1980)
Battered alien spouses, battered alien children, the alien parents of battered children, and alien children of battered parents who fit certain criteria
Cuban/Haitian entrants
Victims of a severe form of trafficking

Thus, we have millions of illegal aliens eligible for public assistance. They say that "undocumented immigrants" are not eligible, but they just re-categorize them as "refugees".

Anecdotal evidence: Before I married, I dated THREE women who I found out were all illegal aliens, and all three happened to be getting public assistance and two of the three had kids in schools.

Also, I'm sure than there are FR members here who work in the government that can tell you stories about how much public assistance (wealth transfer of our taxes from us to them) is going on.

Also, as you know or as you SHOULD know, the new Medicare Prescription Drug Bill had $2 billion funded for reimbursement to Arizona hospitals who are serving the illegal aliens free of charge. You know that.

The amount of free medical care and public assistance (food, housing, etc.) is bigtime. Do some research and yo will get your numbers.

In California, many Medi-Cal services and other public benefits are already available to illegal immigrants, with or without a valid ID [Matricula Card]. Nearly one-third of California's illegal aliens -- more than any other state -- already receive some form of government assistance. The possession of the matricula can only serve to exacerbate this problem.
More info and source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/08/26/ED8980.DTL&type=printable
The land of fruits and nuts has yet one more lunatic program. 1) CA is a steppingstone for legal precedent I know, and that is bad. 2)What is the percentage of NON illegals who receive some type of assistance in CA? 3)I am a strong believer in the principle of "if you build it, they will come." In other words, if US citizens have a hard time saying "no" to proffered benefits, I am not sure I want to blame aliens for taking what is offered.

If I were in CA and that kind of stuff went on I might be a bit more militant. As it is, I live in NC. I would advise CA to change their laws so CITIZENS can keep more of those freebies!!!!! Get the illegals out so I can have MY turn at the trough!, or rather, shut down the trough. We probably are in agreement that CA has a real problem, if those stats are true, and I have no reason to doubt them. Point taken

. Food Stamps “Qualified aliens” are ineligible for Food Stamps for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of an alien’s entry into the United States. (Sec 402 (a))
Exceptions to the 5-year ban on Food Stamps:
Children (under 18 years old). (Sec 402(a)(2)(J))
Aliens who were lawfully residing in the U.S. and were age 65 or older on August 22, 1996. (Sec 402(a)(2)(I))
Aliens who are receiving assistance for blindness or disability. (Sec 402(a)(2)(F))
Certain Indians. (Sec 402(a)(2)(G))
Certain Hmong and Highland Laotians. (Sec 402(a)(2)(K))
Refugees and Asylees, aliens whose deportation is being withheld, Amerasians, and Cuban/Haitian entrants, and victims of a severe form of trafficking. (Sec 402(a)(2)(A))
Veterans, members of the military on active duty, and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. (Sec 402(a)(2)(C))
Legal Permanent Residents who have worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage. After 12/31/96, no quarter can be considered a “qualifying quarter” if the individual is receiving a “federal meanstested public benefit.” (See Section D below for the definition) Quarters worked by parents when the alien was a child, or by a spouse while married, may be counted by spouses and dependent children as satisfying the 40 quarter requirement. (Sec 402(a)(2)(B))

More info and source: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/immigration/restrictions-sum.htm#sec1

I must have missed the percentages on that one. Could you show me specifically where you were showing me how many illegal aliens were on food stamps. I appreciate all the info about Hmong refugees and vets and all, but that really wasn't what I asked for.
You said there was a HIGH percentage of illegals on welfare. I asked for documentation on this. So far, we have seen some links to a Mass program that you think establishes that they are on state programs. I could not find any evidence of eligibility, much less enrollment, and asked you to clarify. Then you posted that 33 per cent of CA illegals are on some kind of assistance. Touche, and I agreed that is awful. A few questions on that, but your point stands. Then you post some fed regs on everyone who is eligible for food stamps. I have to say again, you have not answered the question at all, which is to ask if you have any evidence that "large percentages of illegals are on welfare." The cursory look I took at your link here doesn't even seem to establish eligilibility, much less enrollment.

sorry for the previous boldface. I will try and remember to switch it off.

Supplemental Security Income Most qualified aliens who enter the US on or after August 22, 1996 are ineligible for SSI until they become U.S. citizens, which generally requires at least five years residency. (Sec 402(a))

This has nothing to do with illegal aliens on SSI. NOTE: "qualified Alein" is often an illegal alien.........
Not from your list (below)
Qualified aliens include (Sec 431):

Legal Permanent Residents
Asylees
- nope
Refugees
- nope
Aliens paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
-Maybe
Aliens whose deportations are being withheld
-Maybe
Aliens granted conditional entry (prior to April 1, 1980)
-nope
Battered alien spouses, battered alien children, the alien parents of battered children, and alien children of battered parents who fit certain criteria
-Maybe
Cuban/Haitian entrants
-nope
Victims of a severe form of trafficking
-nope
Most of these people are granted legal residence. The ones not legal are a bit low to establish the "high percentage" of illegals supposedly on welfare.