Skip to agency navigation
Skip to main content

Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means it's official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 
    Department of Human Services (DHS)

    Noncitizen Eligibility

    HR 1, passed by Congressional Republicans and signed into law by President Trump in July 2025, changes eligibility rules for SNAP and Medicaid

    SNAP

    Under new federal law, stricter rules are now in effect for noncitizens who are eligible to receive SNAP as of November 1, 2025.

    As long as all other eligibility criteria for SNAP is met, the following noncitizen groups remain eligible as of November 1, 2025:

    • Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), including:
      • Iraqi and Afghani immigrants who came to the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas and become lawful permanent residents of the country upon admission to the U.S.
      • Certain Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members who helped the U.S. military by taking part in a military or rescue operation beginning August 5, 1964, and ending May 7, 1975, and their spouses, unmarried dependent children, and unremarried surviving spouses
      • American Indians born in Canada to whom Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) applies
      • Members of Indian tribes born outside of the U.S. under Section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
    • Cuban/Haitian Entrants (CHE)
    • Compacts of Free Association (COFA) migrants of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau
    • Noncitizen U.S. Nationals (e.g., American Samoans and Swains Islanders)

    If you are a noncitizen SNAP recipient and your status is not listed above, you may continue to receive SNAP until your next renewal date. Eligibility based on the limited noncitizen statuses will be assessed upon renewal, and if you are no longer eligible for SNAP, you will receive official notice. No changes will be made to your benefits without notice from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

    If you have any questions about SNAP, you can contact your caseworker at the Department of Human Services’ County Assistance Office or call the Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930 (or 215-560-7226 if you live in Philadelphia).

    Medicaid

    Changes for noncitizen eligibility for Medicaid will begin in October 2026. More information will come from PA DHS before these changes take effect.