Is the public charge rule still in effect? Should I avoid CalFresh?
CArosa_p1 month ago
Pregnant. We're eligible for CalFresh and Medi-Cal. Worried it'll hurt my husband's green card case.
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The 2022 public charge rule rolled back the expanded 2019 version. Currently, the ONLY public benefits that count against public charge are direct cash assistance (SSI, TANF, state GA) and long-term institutional care at government expense. CalFresh (SNAP), Medi-Cal (non-LTC), WIC, school lunch, housing assistance, and any benefit YOU receive (as a USC or LPR) NEVER count — they're not the applicant's benefits. You can use CalFresh and Medi-Cal for your pregnancy without affecting his case. The fear is widespread but the current rule is clear. CHIRLA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and many county social-service offices have multilingual flyers if you want a printed version. Hablo español si necesitas confirmación en español.
Lawma Moderator1 month ago
Protecting Immigrant Families coalition (protectingimmigrantfamilies.org) maintains a current public-charge FAQ that's updated when rules change.
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Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.