Part Three: What Public Benefits Can My Client Get?
Unrestricted Federal Benefits
Congress specifically exempted certain programs from any immigration status restrictions and gave the Attorney General the power to designate other federal benefits programs that may not impose such restrictions. Congress also gave states the option to provide WlC (a nutrition program for pregnant women) to all noncitizens, including the undocumented.
The law exempts:
Emergency Medicaid (including labor and delivery during childbirth), testing and treatment for symptoms of communicable diseases, immunizations, and short-term, in-kind, non-cash emergency disaster relief.
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In addition, the law allows states to set additional benefits available to aliens regardless of immigration status.