PUBLIC CHARGE

Biden Public Charge Policy In Effect

Note: We update the content on this page whenever public charge policy changes. The materials and information on this page reflects the policy currently in effect.

The Biden administration’s public charge policy is still in place and it has not changed. Changing this policy will require the federal government to issue new regulations. The PIF Coalition will monitor this process closely. Please check back here for updates.

Under the current policy, most immigrants who are subject to public charge are not eligible for the benefits that can be considered under the test. Healthcare, food, and housing assistance are not considered in the public charge assessment. The only benefits considered are “public cash assistance for income maintenance” and long-term institutionalization paid for by the government.

The public charge inadmissibility test applies when a person applies for a green card or for a visa. Many immigrants are exempt from public charge by laws that cannot be changed by regulations.

Visit keepyourbenefits.org

The Keep Your Benefits website provides guidance about the applicability of public charge to specific immigration statuses and plans for the future. It was built by attorneys and advocates for immigrant families, so you know you can trust the information you get on Keep Your Benefits. Information is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. In addition to the national site, Keep Your Benefits offers customized versions for several states with large immigrant populations.

Learn More About Public Charge

These resources can help families, advocates, and service providers understand who the current public charge policy applies to, which safety net programs are considered in public charge determinations, which are not, and other factors immigration officials must consider when making public charge determinations.