Welfare Reform in 1996 targeted legal immigrants for many of its cuts in public programs. As a result, Refugees and Asylees could only be eligible for food stamps for the first 5 years of their residency. Refugees and Asylees, like other Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) may become US citizens only after 7 years of residency. Therefore, if they become needy in their 6^th or 7^th year of residency, they cannot tap into Food Stamp resources.

On June 9, 1998 the House and Senate voted by a large majority for the Agricultural Research, Extension & Education Reform Act of 1998. Within the text of this bill in Sections 501 to 508, Food Stamp benefits were given back to several groups of people.

The 5-year limit Refugees and Asylees had for receiving Food Stamps was extended to 7 years. Also, the following groups of people will be exempted from any of the barriers that apply to LPRs for getting Food Stamps*: LPRs who were 65 and older and lawfully present in the US on August 22, 1996, LPRs under the age of 18 who were lawfully present in the US on August 22, 1996, Hmong and Highland Loatians lawfully present, and Native Americans living on reservations that straddle the northern or southern US border. Estimates on the number of people that will be eligible for Food Stamps as a result of this new policy range from 250,000 to 820,000.

The bill was sent to the President on June 11 and was signed into law this week. Thanks are extended to the MIRA coalition for their information on this new policy.

*LPRs may only receive Federal Food Stamps if they have completed 40 quarters of work or if they are a military veteran or the spouse or child of a military veteran. Currently, Massachusetts subsidizes the Food Stamp program so that LPRs without the 40 quarters of work history may receive the benefit. The funds come from the State budget and are subject to change every year.

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