PUBLIC CHARGE INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

Biden Public Charge Policy In Effect

Updated January 21, 2025. We put new information on this page whenever public charge rules change. The information on this page is the latest facts about public charge.

The Biden public charge rule is still in place.

When a person applies for a green card, the government has to consider whether the person will depend on the government in the future. This “public charge” policy does not apply to people in the U.S. who are not applying for a green card.

Government officials can only look at benefits received by the person applying for a green card. They cannot consider benefits used by that person’s spouse, child, or other people in the house. That is true even if the green card applicant’s name is on their family member’s benefits application. Most people applying for green cards are not eligible for these benefits programs.

Immigration officials can only consider two types of benefits:

• Monthly cash assistance intended to support a person. This includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and state-based cash assistance programs.
• Long-term institutional care at government expense.

Using other programs will not affect your immigration status.

Visit KeepYourBenefits.org

The Keep Your Benefits website has information on how public charge affects you. It lets you learn more based on your immigration status. You can trust the site. It was built by lawyers and organizations that work with immigrants. Information is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Keep Your Benefits also offers versions for states with large numbers of immigrants.

Learn More About Public Charge

Use these resources to learn more. Learn who public charge applies to and which benefits programs are considered. And learn about other things immigration officials must consider.

Find a PIF Partner in Your State

PIF has hundreds of partner organizations in most U.S. states, and many PIF partner organizations can help immigrant families get answers to questions about benefits eligibility and public charge. Visit our partners page to find a partner organization in your state,