Ukrainian Immigrants

There are multiple categories of Ukrainian nationals arriving in the United States.

These nationals may be refugees, special immigrant visa holders (SIVs), SIV parolees (also known as special immigrant parolees), asylees, or humanitarian parolees.

Refugees, special immigrant visa holders (SIVs), SIV parolees (also known as special immigrant parolees), and asylees are immediately eligible for SNAP as long as other eligibility requirements are met.

Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees

On May 21, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (the Act) (P.L. 117-128).

Section 401 of the Act provides that Ukrainian nationals, citizens, or those who last habitually lived in Ukraine who are granted parole between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023, are eligible to receive resettlement assistance, entitlement programs (including SNAP), and other benefits available to refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. These individuals are not subject to a waiting period and are immediately eligible for benefits as long as they meet all other SNAP financial and non-financial eligibility requirements. These individuals are exempt from sponsor deeming requirements. Given they continue to meet all other SNAP eligibility requirements, these individuals are eligible so long as they remain in parole status or another eligible immigration status.

Additionally, the spouses and children of such individuals, as well as parents, legal guardians, and primary caregivers of such individuals who were unaccompanied minors, are eligible for SNAP benefits even if they are granted parole after September 30, 2023, as long as they meet all other SNAP income and eligibility requirements.

SAVE and Verification Procedures

All persons claiming alien status must submit verification, and the worker must use SAVE to verify the person’s status. We do not deny a SNAP applicant without first running SAVE to determine that person’s status.

The verification may include but it is not limited to:

• An Ukrainian passport with a Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection “PAROLED” stamp in their passport or an “OAR” notation in the parole stamp,
• an I-94 showing date of admission and the “OAR” notation, or
• a Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document with a C11 category.

Status Changes

If a parolee applies for asylum, that individual would remain eligible for SNAP while they remain in application status for asylum.