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When Can Immigrants Claim Benefits?

Haroen Calehr Aug. 24, 2016

Usually, illegal immigrants cannot claim benefits, but there are as always in law, there are exceptions. By and large, unless you’ve actually put money into the system then you really can’t derive anything out of it. And the exceptions are once the person becomes a citizen or they themselves work and accumulate 40 credits there can be short-term periods and depending on how much income you make, but usually, Social Security, SSI or Medicare or Medicaid are not available to the average alien. But there are certain programs that do not fall under the prohibition programs that are administered by the state and not by the federal government and those may be available on a state-by-state basis.