California Department of Social Services - State Hearings Division
Notes from the Training Bureau - December 2, 1998

Federal law (PRWORA) prohibits "qualified aliens" who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, and who do not meet exception criteria from receiving federal means tested public benefits for a period of five years after they acquired status as a "qualified alien."

Notwithstanding federal law, legal immigrants may receive state funded CalWORKs benefits if they meet eligibility criteria of MPP Section 42-431.

This ACL lists persons who meet exception criteria and are thus eligible for federally funded benefits for CalWORKs. Such persons include refugees, asylees, aliens granted withholding of deportation, veterans, those lawfully admitted permanent residents who have 40 qualifying quarters of work, Cuban/Haitian entrants and Amerasian immigrants.