Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) are non-citizens who have been granted permission to live and work in the United States permanently. 

Eligibility	Many special conditions determine whether a Lawful Permanent Resident is eligible for particular programs. See the following information.
Most common examples of Immigration Documentation	Lawful Permanent Resident card  I-94 showing stamp for admission as Lawful Permanent Resident  I-551 Passport Stamp Note on VISA that states it serves as a Temporary I-551 which is evidence of Lawful Permanent Resident Status
Likely to be sponsored?	Sometimes, if in an Immediate Relative or Family Sponsored category code, see https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/lawful-permanent-residents/ImmigrantCOA
Category Code - Lawful Permanent Resident Card  Explains a person's "Adjusted from" status.	For the most common category codes on Lawful Permanent Resident cards, see https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/lawful-permanent-residents/ImmigrantCOA.
Combined Manual Reference	0031.03.12 (Applicants for Lawful Permanent Resident Status)

A two-step process for determining eligibility.

Determining eligibility requires both:

1.	Confirm the applicant’s lawful permanent resident status.
2.	Determine specific circumstances about their lives or history that match specific program policies. Those circumstances will determine which lawful permanent residents are eligible for federally-funded benefits, for state-funded benefits or for no benefits.

Determining Cash Assistance eligibility

Some families may be eligible for federally-funded MFIP.  Others might be eligible for state-funded MFIP.  Determine if they are eligible for federally-funded MFIP first.

Federally-Funded MFIP Cash Eligibility
Lawful Permanent Residents meeting any one of the following conditions are eligible for federally-funded MFIP cash: 

●	Active duty United States military or honorably discharged United States veterans and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. Verify this by the United States military ID, or a document issued by a United States military branch confirming active military duty. This does not include service through the National Guard.
●	In Lawful Permanent Resident Status since before August 22, 1996 Verify this by looking at the “Resident Since” date on the person’s Lawful Permanent Resident Card.
●	People who adjust to LPR status from any of the following statuses: Refugee Asylee Withholding of Removal/Deportation Withheld Cuban/Haitian Entrant American Indian Born in Canada Iraqi/Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holder Amerasians Victim of Trafficking Citizen of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau Afghan/Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee Verify this through the category code on the person’s immigration document, see https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/lawful-permanent-residents/ImmigrantCOA.
●	Has been a qualified non-citizen for five years or more. See 0002.53 (Glossary: Qualified…). - Verify this by looking at the status grant date on the person’s Lawful Permanent Residence Card.

NOTE: To determine if the person is eligible for federally funded MFIP food, follow the guidance below in SNAP eligibility.

NOTE: If the person is NOT eligible for federally-funded benefits, then consider whether they are eligible for state-funded benefits.

State-Funded MFIP Eligibility
A lawful permanent resident is eligible for state-funded MFIP benefits if they are not eligible for federally funded MFIP and meet one of the following conditions:

●	They have had lawful permanent resident status in the United States for less than four years, or
●	They are over age 69, or
●	They have had lawful permanent resident status for more than four years and less than five years, they are 18-69 years old, and they meet one of the following criteria: Enrolled in a literacy class, English as a Second Language class, or a citizenship class. Applied for admission to a literacy class or English as a Second Language class and is on a waiting list. In the process of applying for a waiver from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the English language or civics requirements of the citizenship test. Have submitted an application for citizenship to the USCIS and are waiting for a testing date or a subsequent swearing in ceremony. Have been denied citizenship due to a failure to pass the test after two or more attempts or because of an inability to understand the rights and responsibilities of becoming a United States citizen, as documented by the USCIS or the county agency.

NOTE: Children under age 18 are eligible for a state-funded MFIP cash portion.

Any person who resides in a licensed facility is exempt from these requirements.

People who have had lawful permanent resident status for more than four years and less than five years and are 18-69 years old but do not meet one of the criteria above are not eligible for state-funded MFIP.


MSA, GA
A lawful permanent resident is eligible for GA or MSA.
For GA, an adult lawful permanent resident who has resided in the United States for four years or more and who is under age 70 must meet one of the following criteria:

• Enrolled in a literacy class, English as a Second Language class, or a citizenship class.
• Applied for admission to a literacy class or English as a Second Language class and is on a waiting list.
• In the process of applying for a waiver from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the English language or civics requirements of the citizenship test.
• Have submitted an application for citizenship to the USCIS and are waiting for a testing date or a subsequent swearing in ceremony.
• Have been denied citizenship due to a failure to pass the test after two or more attempts or because of an inability to understand the rights and responsibilities of becoming a United States citizen, as documented by the USCIS or the county agency.

Any person who resides in a licensed facility is exempt from these requirements.


HSP
Lawful Permanent Residents are eligible.

Determining Food Assistance eligibility

Determine if the person is eligible for federally funded or state-funded SNAP.

Federally Funded SNAP eligibility
To be eligible for federally funded SNAP, most Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) must have LPR status for five years (see below for exceptions). This means LPRs are subject to a 5-year waiting period to be eligible for SNAP. The 5-year waiting period begins the date the person is granted LPR status. To determine when LPR status was granted, look at the status grant date on the person’s Lawful Permanent Resident Card.

NOTE: The 5-year waiting period for LPRs who adjusted from one of the statuses below begins the date they were granted the previous status:

●	For Battered Spouses, Children and Parents of Battered Children, their 5-year waiting period begins on the date their Prima Facie Determination was issued. This is the date at the top of the determination letter not the receipt date on the letter.
●	Paroled into the United States for One Year or More.

The following LPRs are immediately eligible for SNAP and are not subject to the 5-year waiting period.

●	Children under age 18.

●	Active-duty United States military or honorably discharged United States veterans and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. Verify this by the United States military ID, or a document issued by a United States military branch confirming active military duty. This does not include service through the National Guard.
●	Blind or disabled and receiving federal benefits for that condition. Verify this through VerifyMN. See 0010.18.05 (Verifying Disability/Incapacity - Cash), and 0010.18.06 (Verifying Disability/Incapacity-SNAP)
●	In Lawful Permanent Resident Status since before August 22, 1996 Verify this by looking at the date status granted on a person’s Lawful Permanent Resident card.
●	People who adjust to LPR status from any of the statuses below (verify this through the category code on the person’s immigration document). See TE02.06.09 (IMIG Panel Coding and Workarounds), for system coding: Refugee Asylee Withholding of Removal/Deportation Withheld Cuban/Haitian Entrant American Indian Born in Canada Iraqi/Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holder Trafficking Victim Amerasian Citizen of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau Afghan/Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee

●

Have or can be credited with 40 qualifying social security work credits. Do not allow credit for any credits after December 31, 1996, where an LPR received assistance from a federal means-tested program. See 0002.23 (Glossary: Fair Hearing…)  To verify Social Security Credits, see 0031.39 (Verifying Social Security Credits for Noncitizen Eligibility for Cash and Food Programs). Also see: How You Earn Credits 2022 (ssa.gov)

If the lawful permanent resident is NOT eligible for federally funded SNAP, consider their eligibility for the State-funded SNAP (Minnesota Food Assistance Program). See 0029.07.03 (Minnesota State Food Benefits).