Know Your Rights.Fight Fear With Facts.We’re Here To Help.
Public Charge
Public Charge is a rule immigration officials use to approve or deny a family-based application for a green card (lawful permanent residency or LPR status), or certain other visas. Immigration officials use the term “public charge” to refer to people who are likely to become dependent on the government for support.
THE FINAL PUBLIC CHARGE RULE clarifies that immigrants can access many vital public benefits, including health care, food and housing support, without fear of immigration consequences. Every family is different, and while the Public Charge Test may make you nervous, you can use our Public Charge roadmap to stay informed.
Available in other languages here: Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Tagalog, Punjabi, Korean, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole
An Informed Community Is A Strong Community
Health 4 All: Medi-Cal Expansion
Starting January 1, 2024 all income-eligible Californians qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits REGARDLESS OF AGE OR IMMIGRATION STATUS. If you are already enrolled in emergency or restricted scope Medi-Cal, you will be automatically enrolled into full-scope Medi-Cal. To learn more about the expansion you can download the Immigrant Health Coverage Fact Sheet that The Children’s Partnership and community partners from the CA-PIF coalition created. Share this resource with your communities!
Available in other languages here: Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Tagalog, Punjabi, Korean, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole
Queer and Transgender Immigrant Health Brochure
This brochure is designed to help queer and transgender immigrants enroll in Medi-Cal, explore affirming services and file a complaint when necessary. The brochure is available in eight languages:
Chinese, Haitian Creole, English, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese
Food Programs and your Rights: A Guide for Immigrant Families
Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) and partners have developed a one-page flier that can help immigrant families navigate access to the most common food and nutrition programs, addressing specific concerns about eligibility, immigration status, and mixed-status families. Materials are also available in Spanish, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, French, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, and Haitian Creole
Need a little help feeding your kids when school is out for summer?
Summer EBT/SUN Bucks is a new program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Families will get $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer [update dollar amount annually]. Children who get [insert Summer EBT/SUN Bucks] can still participate in other summer meal programs. All eligible families can get [insert Summer EBT/SUN Bucks] regardless of immigration status.
Fact sheet is available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese
Keep Your Benefits
Rules about public benefits and immigrants are confusing. But benefits can help your family stay healthy and thrive. Learn more about how public benefits could affect different types of immigration statuses at:
Free Assistance with Public Charge
For a list of legal organizations that can provide free assistance with public charge and immigration visit:
Additional Resources
Over the last year and a half, we have worked with national, state and local partners to advocate against changes to the public charge rule, stay updated, create supportive messaging and tools, and educate and empower families. Our materials are based on verified information developed by our partners. You can learn more from visiting the sites below.
