The United States provides limited welfare aid to Ukrainian arrivals. The main programs are discussed below.
Ukrainian humanitarian parolees with no or low income who arrived between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024 (including people who were paroled at the Mexican or Canadian border and people who arrived under the Uniting for Ukraine program) are entitled to federal benefits to the same extent as refugees. These benefits include free government-funded health insurance Medicaid or Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA), food money under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), cash assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, and resettlement services through resettlement agencies. These programs are more fully described below.
The aid is generally provided for the term of the humanitarian parole so long as the applicant meets the income qualifications of the aid programs. If a person who was admitted to the U.S. on humanitarian parole applies and receives TPS, this person will not lose their aid because of the change of status and will continue to receive the aid until the end of their parole term.
Medicaid is government-funded health insurance for low-income individuals and families.
Nine states (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, and WY) limit Medicaid availability to certain categories of people, for example, families with children, pregnant women, elderly or disabled. If you are in one of those states and are not eligible for Medicaid, you may be able obtain Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) insurance for the first 12 months after arrival in the United States.
Medicaid and RMA cover all necessary medical services free of charge for you, including doctor visits, diagnostic tests, emergency room visits, treatment of chronic conditions, hospitalization and prescription medication. The coverage of dental services varies by state. Medicaid and RMA may retroactively cover up to 3 month of past medical expenses. See more at the Health Insurance page.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, is financial aid to buy food. You will receive a debit EBT card to which the government will make monthly contributions, and you will be able to use this card to buy food items at grocery stores. You cannot withdraw SNAP money in cash from the EBT card.
In 2023/24 fiscal year, you can receive monthly a maximum of $291 for a single person, $535 for a family of two and $766 for a family of three. See chart for other family sizes. If you have some income or assets, or receive cash assistance, the SNAP amounts may be lower.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is cash aid to families with minor children and pregnant women. The amount of cash you can receive under TANF varies state by state and depends on your family size. You can receive TANF money via check, on your EBT card or via direct deposit in your bank account.
TANF program is meant to be temporary, until you find your next employment and become self-sufficient again. If you are receiving TANF assistance, the state typically requires that you actively look for a job, attend school that helps you get employed or otherwise participate in employment-promoting activities 20-30 hours per week. You can receive an exemption from this requirement in some cases, for example, if you have a newborn child or are caregiver to a disabled family member.
Many states run other assistance programs as part of TANF, including homelessness prevention programs and child care assistance programs. Inquire at your welfare agency about available services.
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) is cash aid program for single people and couples without minor children, who do not qualify for TANF. RCA is given for 12 months after arrival, with the same maximum monthly payments as TANF provides.
Like TANF, RCA program is meant to facilitate employment. After approving your aid, the social services agency will typically refer you to a local resettlement agency that can help you find your first job in the U.S.
WIC (short for Women, Infants and Children) program provides supplemental healthy foods and health screenings for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5. Unlike the above-mentioned programs for which you can apply though your county welfare agency, you should apply for WIC via your state’s WIC website or by calling a toll-free number.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is financial aid for people aged 65 or older, blind or disabled. In 2024, the maximum monthly amount of SSI on the federal level is $943 per person, or $1,415 per couple where both spouses are eligible. Some states pay additional sums out of their own budget. Apply for SSI at the Social Security Administration office. You will need your passport, I-94, and Social Security Number.
Aside from the above-mentioned mainstream benefits, Ukrainians may qualify for refugee resettlement assistance, such as, for example, Matching Grant program, which includes assistance with employment, rent, cash, and immigration forms. Inquire about these additional services at your closest resettlement agency.
Matching Grant program is available through resettlement agencies in many states. This program is aimed assist newly arriving refugees with employment and provide support in the form of financial assistance, rental assistance and case management while the refugee is focused on getting employed.
To learn more about Matching Grant, please contact your local resettlement agency.
You can apply for mainstream benefits such as Medicaid/RMA, SNAP, TANF and RCA at your county welfare agency. They are named differently in different cities and states, for example:
Google “social services” and the name of your county to locate the agency in your county.
Bring with you your passport, form I-94 (if you did not receive I-94 at the border, you can print it online), a proof of residence in your county (any official letter showing your name and address, a utility bill in your name, a rental agreement, or a letter from the owner of the house saying that you live there), and your Social Security Number. If you do not yet have a Social Security
Number, bring proof that you have applied for it, such as a receipt from the Social Security Administration or a copy of form I-765 with a Receipt Notice confirming its acceptance by USCIS .
Oftentimes, you can apply for welfare benefits online. However, it may better to find the closest office and come in person – that way you can get help in filling out the forms and ask your questions. You can also be interviewed and receive approval right away instead of having to wait for a telephone interview after submitting an online application.
If you were not interviewed at the social services upon submitting your application, look out for a call from a social worker who will conduct a phone interview with you.
Neither the income of your supporter, nor the help your supporter provides to you matter for purposes of your eligibility for welfare aid. (The only exception is the SNAP program – you will not be eligible for food stamps if you live and share food with your supporter.)
If the social worker asks you about the income of your “sponsor,” explain that you do not have a sponsor who signed form 864 (a stricter form for family immigration cases where the sponsor takes full financial responsibility for their relative). Rather, your supporter signed form I-134, which is not binding on your supporter, and under AUSAA, your supporter’s income does not matter for your eligibility for welfare aid.
If you received a denial, don’t give up. Social workers are humans and often make mistakes, especially when dealing with new laws. They may also be not very good at communicating. You can:
Print the following documents and show them to the social worker:
Source: NovaUkraine
Back to All Resources