Social Benefits for Immigrants During COVID-19

Now, more than ever, many people are in need of government assistance. Immigrants in particular face a lot of misinformation and uncertainty regarding their eligibility. A recent survey in North Carolina found that Latinx immigrants polled across the state are struggling to access COVID-19 government aid.

Although the applicability of this information will depend on your individual case, the following contains some basics regarding benefits eligibility for immigrants.

Federal Stimulus

The stimulus check that was sent out over the past couple of months is only available to taxpayers with Social Security numbers. This means that many immigrants are likely to receive a check. However, this does exclude millions of undocumented people in our country.

Unemployment Benefits

Generally, workers must have valid work authorization for a certain period before they can apply for this benefit, including those with DACA and Temporary Protected Status. This requirement again excludes undocumented workers.

There are additional criteria to determine eligibility based on how COVID-19 has affected your work status and schedule.

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT)

The P-EBT program is a new initiative by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services aimed to reduce the effects of hunger on school-aged children during closures. The program will provide qualifying families with funds to purchase food at most major grocery stores.

P-EBT is intended to be offered to all, including undocumented immigrant parents of school-aged children as well.  You can find out more about the program here.

We understand that you and your family are facing many challenges during this time. Our team at Sussman Law Firm believes that navigating the immigration process shouldn’t be one of them. Contact Sussman Law Firm, PLLC to schedule a consultation with our qualified immigration attorneys.