Battered Spouses, Children, and Parents of Battered Children are people who have received an immigration status because they were battered by a spouse, child, or parent who is a United States citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. 

Eligibility	Many special conditions determine whether a person is eligible for particular programs. See the following information. Note: The battered individual is not eligible for benefits under this status when residing with the individual responsible for the battery, abuse or extreme cruelty.
Most common examples of Immigration Documentation	Approved Form I-360 under the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service letter indicating "Prima Facie eligibility." Immigration Court document indicating a pending Cancellation of Removal case under the Violence Against Women's Act Cancellation of Removal noting battered spouse/child Stay of Deportation noting battered spouse/child
Likely to be sponsored?	No.
Category Code - Lawful Permanent Resident Card  Explains the code on the LPR card when a person "Adjusted from" this status.	B11, B12, B16, B17, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31, B32, B33, B34, B35, B36, B37, B38, IB1, IB2, IB3, IB6, IB7, IB8, Z14
Category Code - Employment Authorization Document (EAD)  Explains a person's current status.	C31

A two-step process for determining eligibility

Determining eligibility requires both:

1.	Confirming the applicant’s status as a battered spouse, child, or parent of a battered child.
2.	Determining specific circumstances about their lives or history that match specific program policies. Those circumstances will determine which people are eligible for federally-funded benefits, for state-funded benefits or for no benefits.

Determining Cash Assistance eligibility

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

Federally Funded MFIP cash eligibility

Battered spouses, children, or parents of a battered child that meet any one of the following conditions is eligible for federally-funded MFIP cash:

●	Active duty U.S. military or honorably discharged U.S. veterans and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. Verify this by the U.S. military ID, or a document issued by a U.S. military branch confirming active military duty. This does not include service through the National Guard.
●	Have 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), see also: How You Earn Credits 2022 (ssa.gov)
●	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 immigration document(s) and reviewing what it means to be a qualified non-citizen.

Individuals who meet the criteria above are eligible for federally funded cash only. They are not eligible for federally funded food benefits. If they meet all other MFIP eligibility criteria they are eligible for a state-funded MFIP food portion.

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

State funded MFIP benefits, Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), General Assistance (GA), and Housing Support Program (HSP).

Battered spouses, children, or parents of a battered child are eligible.

Determining Food Assistance eligibility

SNAP eligibility

Battered spouses, children, or parents of a battered child are ineligible for federally funded SNAP and state funded SNAP (MFAP); this includes UHFS. Please review 0031.09 (Lawful Permanent Residents) when a battered spouse, children, or parents of a battered child has a status adjustment to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status. 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.