U.S. Identifies 7 Categories for SSI Benefits Eligibility

The U.S. government has outlined seven categories of non-citizens who may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, providing clarity for foreigners regarding their eligibility for this federal assistance program. According to the information published on the official SSI website, a foreigner must be classified as a "qualified alien" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to access these benefits.

The qualifying statuses include: 1) Foreigners Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LAPR), including Amerasian immigrants; 2) Foreigners granted conditional entry under Section 203(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) before April 1, 1980; 3) Foreigners paroled under Section 212(d)(5) of the INA for at least one year; 4) Refugees admitted under Section 207 of the INA; 5) Foreigners granted asylum under Section 208 of the INA; 6) Foreigners whose deportation is withheld under Section 243(h) of the INA or whose removal is withheld under Section 241(b)(3) of the INA; and 7) Cuban or Haitian entrants as defined in Section 501(e) of the Refugee Assistance Act of 1980. Foreigners not falling within these categories are ineligible for SSI benefits, regardless of their length of stay in the U.S.