Applying for Public Assistance
Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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The Affidavit of Support and Immigrant Eligibility for Public Benefits
This form will help you to determine what kind of benefits a person who immigrated to the U.S. with an affidavit of support is eligible to receive. To determine eligibility, you will need to know which kind of affidavit of support was filed -- the affidavit of support form I-134, or the affidavit of support form I-864.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Will Using Benefits Hurt My Chances of Getting a Green Card or Becoming a U.S. Citizen?
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Web Site
(Separate Website)
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) advances the legal rights and dignity of low-income immigrants in Washington State by pursuing and preserving their legal status through legal representation, education and public policy.
By: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
National Immigration Law Center Web Site
(Separate Website)
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a national support center whose mission is to protect and promote the rights and opportunities of low income immigrants and their family members. NILC staff specialize in immigration law, and the employment and public benefits rights of immigrants. The Center conducts policy analysis and impact litigation and provides publications, technical advice, and trainings to a broad constituency of legal aid agencies, community groups, and pro bono attorneys.
By: National Immigration Law Center
USCIS Guidance on "Public Charge"
The U.S. government has important news about "public charge" - when receiving public benefits may affect your immigration status or your ability to travel outside of the U.S. The government's new guidance on public charge, which took effect May 25, 1999, gives clear rules about when it is and is not safe to use public benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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A Guide for Immigrants, Limited English Persons and Their Advocates to Federally Subsidized Housing
A detailed guide for immigrants and non-english speakers to federally subsidized housing programs.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Public Assistance for Family Visa Beneficiaries
This publication will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you got your green card because a family member petitioned for you. If you have a different immigration status, please read one of the other publications on this topic.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Public Assistance for Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence
This publication will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are an immigrant and a victim of domestic violence. If you have a different immigration status, please read one of our other publications on this topic.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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WA Public Assistance for Victims of Trafficking This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are a victim of trafficking.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Washington Public Assistance for Legal Residents (Permanently Residing Under Color of Law)*
This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are a legal resident (PRUCOL) immigrant. If you have a different immigration status please read one of our other brochures.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Public Assistance for Public Interest Parolees
This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are a public interest parolee (paroled for a period of at least one year). If you have a different immigration status please read one of our other brochures in this series.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Public Assistance for Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants
(Includes Refugees, Asylees, Persons Granted Withholding of Deportation, Cuban Haitian Entrants and Persons Granted Conditional Entrance)
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Public Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants
This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are undocumented. If you have a different immigration status please read one of our other brochures in this series.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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WA Public Assistance for Immigrants who Legalized Under the 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act
This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you legalized under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. If you have a different immigration status please read one of our other brochures.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Questions and Answers for Immigrants Receiving General Assistance Who Want to Apply for SSI
Information for immigrants who want to apply for SSI.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Questions and Answers on Immigrants Who May Lose Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
This brochure is provided to help you educate immigrants who have come to the United States on or after August 22, 1996 and may be receiving SSI because they are disabled or 65 and over. THESE IMMIGRANTS MAY NEED TO BECOME CITIZENS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO KEEP GETTING THEIR SSI.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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WorkFirst for Those Who Don't Speak English
Information on how to make WorkFirst work best for you if you or someone in your family doesn't speak English.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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What is the Alien Emergency Medical Program?
If you have a medical emergency, the federally funded Alien Emergency Medical (AEM) may be available to pay for services necessary to pay for that emergency.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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What Are My Rights? Dealing with DSHS
This publication lists services available by DSHS and your rights when dealing with this state agency.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Fight a Denial of DSHS Public Assistance
This publication explains your rights if you apply for cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and their office denies you benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How To Fight a Termination or Reduction of DSHS Public Assistance
7102EN - This publication explains your rights if the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) tells you that it will stop or cut back the cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance they have been giving you. The most important thing to know is that you must ask for a fair hearing soon, usually within 10 days of being mailed written notice, to keep getting your benefits while you appeal.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How To Fight an Overpayment of Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance or Food Stamps
An overpayment occurs when you receive benefits you are not eligible for according to DSHS rules. DSHS gets the benefits back by charging you with an overpayment. This publication provides info on the types of overpayments and what you can do if you disagree.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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DSHS Help for People with Disabilities: Necessary Supplemental Accomodations
If you get DSHS benefits, such as TANF, SFA, GAU, Medicaid, or food assistance, DSHS must accommodate your disabilities. This means that DSHS must try to make their services and benefits available to you to the same extent that they are available to people without a disability.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Representing Yourself at a Fair Hearing
If you don't agree with any decision, either verbal or written, made by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), you have the right to appeal that decision by asking for a fair hearing.
This publication tells you about 1) the deadline to request a fair hearing, 2) how to make the re-quest, 3) how to prepare for your hearing, and 4) what to expect at your hearing and afterward.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Present an Equitable Estoppel Defense at a DSHS Hearing
If you receive an overpayment notice from DSHS telling you that you owe them money or food stamps because they gave you benefits they should not have given you, and the overpayment was through no fault of yours, you should ask for a fair hearing because there is a legal defense against the overpayment. You must ask for the fair hearing within 90 days of the date of the overpayment notice. The notice will say the overpayment was unintentionally caused and will say you are required to repay it, but will not tell you that there is a legal defense against it. Read this publication to find out about an Equitable Estoppel defense.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Petition for Superior Court Review
If you disagree with the final fair hearing decision, you may appeal your case to a state Superior Court. The appeal is called a "Petition for Judicial Review of an Administrative Decision." Your appeal can be filed in either the Superior Court of the county where you live or in Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Welfare Fraud: What You Need to Know
This publication answers common questions about welfare fraud and offers important information that you should know if you are being accused of welfare fraud.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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An Advocate's Guide to the New and Temporary SSI Extension Law for Humanitarian Immigrants
(Separate Website)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides income assistance to low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Since 1996, SSI benefits for refugees and certain other humanitarian immigrants have been available only during a seven-year period. A new law, "The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" (Public Law 110-328), extends SSI eligibility for these immigrants, allowing them to receive at least two more years of SSI.
By: Legal Services of Greater Miami
Immigrant Eligibility for Disaster Assistance
(Separate Website)
The information provided here is for families with members who are not U.S. citizens. It also
applies to agencies that help immigrant families affected by a disaster.
By: National Immigration Law Center
Navigating DSHS: A Road Map to Programs and Services
(Separate Website)
A 16 page guide describing the various program available through DSHS.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
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