WAC 388-424-0020 How does my alien status impact my eligibility for the federally-funded Washington Basic Food Program benefits?

1. If you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. national as defined in WAC:388-424-0001 and meet all other eligibility requirements, you may receive federal Basic Food benefits.

2. If you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, you must fall within (a),  (b), (c) or (d) of this subsection, and meet all other eligibility requirements, in order to receive federal Basic Food benefits: 

   1. You are a member of one of the following groups of “qualified aliens” or similarly defined lawful immigrants as defined in 388-424-0001:

      1. Amerasian;

      2. Asylee;

      3. Cuban or Haitian entrant;

      4. Deportation or removal withheld;

      5. Refugee;

      6. Victim of trafficking;

      7. Non-citizen American Indian; or

      8. Hmong or Highland Lao tribal member.

   2.       i.  You are a member of one of the following groups of “qualified aliens” as defined in 388-424-0001  :

      1. Conditional entrant;

      2. Lawful permanent resident (LPR);

      3. Paroled for one year or more; or

      4. Victim of domestic violence or parent or child of a victim;

           ii.  And, one of the following also applies to you:

      1. You have worked or can get credit for forty Social Security Administration (SSA) work quarters – as described in 388-424-0008;

      2. You are an active duty personnel or honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. military or you are the spouse, unmarried surviving spouse, or unmarried dependent child of someone who meets this requirement, as described in WAC 388-424-0007 (1);

      3. You receive cash or medical benefits based on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) criteria for blindness or disability;

      4. You have lived in the U.S. as a "qualified alien” as described in 388-424-0001 for at least five years;

      5. You are under age eighteen; or

      6. You were “lawfully residing” in the U.S. on August 22, 1996 and were born on or before August 22, 1931.

   3. You are an Iraqi Special Immigrant who was granted Special Immigrant status under section 101(a)(27) of the INA. Iraqi Special Immigrants are eligible for six months of federally‑funded assistance from the date of entry into theUnited States.

   4. You are an Afghan Special Immigrant who was granted Special Immigrant status under section 101(a)(27) of the INA. Afghan Special Immigrants are eligible for six months of federally‑funded assistance from the date of entry into the United States.

   3.    If you are ineligible for federal Basic Food benefits due to your alien status, you may be eligible for state Basic Food benefits (see 388-424-0025 ).