A client must be a US citizen, a national of the United States or a Qualified Alien to receive TANF benefits.

1. United States Citizen’s include:
   1. any person born in the 50 United States.
   2. any person born in another country but moving to the US and being granted U.S. Citizenship through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
2. A National of the US includes any person in:
   • District of Columbia
   • Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
   • Virgin Islands
   • Guam
   • American Samoa
   • Norther Mariana Islands
3. A Qualified Alien includes:
   1. An alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (NIA),
   2. An alien who is paroled into the US for at least one year,
   3. An alien who is granted conditional entry prior to 4/1/1980,
   4. An alien who is granted asylum,
   5. A refugee who is admitted to the US,
   6. An alien whose deportation is withheld,
   7. An alien who is a Cuban or Haitian entrant as per Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980,
   8. Battered aliens and their children or parents as per Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act,
   9. An alien and the eligible relatives who are victims of a severe form of trafficking as per Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000,
   10. An Iraqi admitted in special immigrant status (This person must be treated as a refugee),
   11. An Afghan admitted in special immigrant status (This person must be treated as a refugee), OR
   12. An Afghan non-special immigrant parolee (Humanitarian Parolee).
4. A qualified alien is eligible to receive TANF on date of entry if the alien is:
   1. Admitted to the US as a refugee,
   2. Granted asylum,
   3. One whose deportation is being withheld,
   4. A Cuban or Haitian entrant,
   5. Admitted to the US as an Amerasian immigrant. Lawfully residing in the US and is a veteran of the US armed forces on active duty, or is the spouse or unmarried child of that alien,
   6. A victim of a severe form of trafficking,
   7. An Afghan citizen or national paroled into the US as a humanitarian parolee between July 31, 2021 and Sept 30, 2022.
5. A qualified alien is not eligible for TANF for 5 years from date of entry unless they meet one of the criteria in 4) above.