HHS Notice on Federal Benefits

by David Holt | Aug 20, 2025 | Uncategorized

Toplines

On July 14, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a notice in the Federal Register that re-interprets the meaning of “Federal public benefit” in the 1996 welfare law. In doing so, the notice restricts eligibility to a narrow set of “qualified immigrants” and leaves out many lawfully residing immigrants. See Table B below for more details. 

The notice takes effect on July 14, 2025, but HHS also provides a 30 day comment period that ended on 8/13/2025. The PIF Coalition comment signed by nearly 400 organizations is available here.  Update 8/7/25: HHS posted an update that, on a nationwide basis, it will not enforce this notice until September 11, 2025. This is likely in response to a lawsuit filed by 21 states against the Trump administration to block the notice. As part of the lawsuit, the states and HHS recently agreed to a stipulation that HHS would not enforce the PRWORA notice until September 11th in the states that are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.  In other words, the notice does not apply until September 10th in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont,  Wisconsin, and Washington. Learn more about the notice in our explainer below.

The notice says that HHS considers an additional 13 programs as “Federal public benefits” with eligibility restricted to qualified immigrants. These include Head Start, Community Health Centers, the Title X family planning program, and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). See Table A below for more details. HHS also recognizes that some services designated as “federal public benefits” may nevertheless fit within one of the statutory exemptions, such as testing and treatment of communicable disease symptoms. This notice does not change eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP and states that provide coverage to lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant people can continue to do so. 

This HHS notice did not address PRWORA’s verification requirements. It confirms that non-profit charitable organizations are not required to verify immigration status. But it did not provide details on how verification of status might occur.  

More Details

Programs HHS Considers as Federal Public Benefits

The 1996 welfare law provided a general definition of the “Federal public benefits” that are subject to its “qualified immigrant” eligibility restrictions.  With some important exceptions, the welfare law allowed Federal agencies to determine which of their programs were restricted by the law and which were exempt from restriction.

On July 14, 2025, almost thirty years after passage of the 1996 welfare law, and more than 25 years after HHS published its initial notice, the agency published a notice reinterpreting this term. The notice takes effect immediately (based on the rationale  that any delay would be contrary to the public interest and fail to address the ongoing emergency at the Southern Border of the U.S.), but also grants a 30 day comment period.

Table A below lists the programs that HHS considered to be “Federal public benefits” in the initial August 4, 1998 notice , and in the notice published on July 14, 2025.  “Federal public benefits” are subject to “qualified immigrant” eligibility restrictions. The notice says that this list is not exhaustive. Any programs not listed in this notice or established after the date of this notice may still fall under the definition of Federal public benefit. Any additional programs determined to be Federal public benefits will be announced in program specific guidance. However, the notice does not change eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP and states that cover lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant people can continue to do so.

In the July 10, 2025 notice, HHS’ recognized that some services designated as “federal public benefits” may nevertheless fit within one of the statutory exemptions, such as testing and treatment of communicable disease symptoms. 

Qualified Immigrants

“Qualified immigrants” under the welfare law –the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) – are eligible for Federal public benefits programs. They include lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or people with a green card, refugees, people granted asylum or withholding of deportation/removal, and conditional entrants; people granted parole by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a period of at least one year; Cuban and Haitian entrants; certain abused immigrants, their children and/or their parents; certain survivors of trafficking; and individuals residing in the U.S. pursuant to a Compact of Free Association (COFA).

Many lawfully residing immigrants, who are not listed as “qualified immigrants,” are ineligible for “Federal public benefits” programs. These immigrants include people with Temporary Protected Status; applicants for adjustment to LPR status with approved visa petitions; applicants for asylum or withholding of deportation/removal; people paroled for less than one year, granted deferred enforced departure, or deferred action; special immigrant juveniles; U Visa Holders, people with valid nonimmigrant visas, and more.

Table B Below provides details.

Verification Requirements

This HHS notice did not address PRWORA’s verification requirements.  It confirms that non-profit charitable organizations are not required to verify immigration status. But it did not provide details on how verification of status might occur. 

Costs and Savings

In addition to any savings that may be achieved by excluding lawfully residing people from health and human services programs, HHS notes millions of dollars in new administrative costs for individuals to document their eligibility, and the government to review their eligibility, and for programs to revise their eligibility and operating procedures.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z54dpIFb-ANzDPLx6GQ0d8BsUF3UEugopEnPjasqmNE/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.orwda1o1h08q

Immigrant & Refugee Support Group

by David Holt | Aug 13, 2025 | Uncategorized

The Immigrant and Refugee Support Group (IRSG ) has a fund available for immigrant community members who need help posting bond, paying legal fees and/or need commissary support in detention.

Mission: Envisions a community that cares for all of its members and in which all migrants who seek safety and freedom from oppression and harm are welcomed to the United States – and to New Hampshire, if they choose – with dignity and compassion. We respect the personal power and agency of the immigrants in our midst as the decision makers in their own lives, and we understand our role as offering support and accompaniment whenever we are privileged to do so. We are guided by our faith and by love as we dedicate ourselves to the quest for justice and welcome for all.

Find the full IRSG Mission Statement here.

Contact: Contact irsg.nhcucc@gmail.com and learn more here: https://www.nhcucc.org/mission-groups/immigrant-refugee-support

Biggest sources of immigrants to New Hampshire

by David Holt | Jul 30, 2025 | Uncategorized

Stacker
 Jul 29, 2025 Updated 23 hrs ago

Biggest sources of immigrants to New Hampshire

Over 14% of the United States population is composed of immigrants. But in reality, the vast majority of Americans today are here because of relatives who immigrated from other countries some time in the last several hundred years.

And while the distinctive American culture and spirit is the result of blending many diverse cultures and histories, the United States has for centuries had an up-and-down relationship with immigration.

Each era of immigration has been met with reductive ideas and resistance, whether the backlash was directed toward the Chinese, Irish, Italians, or Mexicans. Immigration laws have targeted specific groups at various times, stoking intolerance and preventing people from truly joining American society. Over time, however, as laws changed to be more equitable and immigrants found their footings, we have reaped the rewards of innovation in business, music, art, literature, dance, food, societal norms, entertainment, and sports—all while realizing a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, religions, and ideas.

Stacker compiled a list of the biggest sources of immigrants to New Hampshire using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest number of residents according to 2023 5-year estimates, the most recent data available as of 2025. Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home state.

#50. Laos

– Number of residents: 344

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

#49. Thailand

– Number of residents: 354

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.41%

#47. Hungary (tie)

– Number of residents: 357

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.41%

#47. Liberia (tie)

– Number of residents: 357

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.41%

#46. Albania

– Number of residents: 358

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.42%

#45. Hong Kong

– Number of residents: 360

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.42%

#44. Morocco

– Number of residents: 381

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.44%

#43. Australia

– Number of residents: 387

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.45%

#42. South Africa

– Number of residents: 405

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.47%

#41. Egypt

– Number of residents: 422

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.49%

#40. Turkey

– Number of residents: 444

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.52%

#39. Netherlands

– Number of residents: 458

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.53%

#38. Kenya

– Number of residents: 515

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

#37. Cambodia

– Number of residents: 556

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.65%

#36. Scotland

– Number of residents: 574

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.67%

#35. Italy

– Number of residents: 578

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.67%

#34. Bhutan

– Number of residents: 581

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.67%

#33. Nigeria

– Number of residents: 634

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.74%

#32. Indonesia

– Number of residents: 643

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.75%

#31. France

– Number of residents: 662

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.77%

#30. Japan

– Number of residents: 684

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.79%

#29. Peru

– Number of residents: 719

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.84%

#28. Greece

– Number of residents: 735

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.85%

#27. Ireland

– Number of residents: 752

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.87%

#26. Taiwan

– Number of residents: 758

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.88%

#25. Lebanon

– Number of residents: 759

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.88%

#24. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)

– Number of residents: 761

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.88%

#23. Poland

– Number of residents: 791

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.92%

#22. Bosnia and Herzegovina

– Number of residents: 807

– Percent of foreign born residents: 0.94%

#21. Romania

– Number of residents: 907

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.05%

#20. Jamaica

– Number of residents: 915

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.06%

#19. Guatemala

– Number of residents: 999

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.16%

#18. Haiti

– Number of residents: 1,058

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.23%

#17. Ukraine

– Number of residents: 1,141

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.33%

#16. El Salvador

– Number of residents: 1,278

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.48%

#15. Portugal

– Number of residents: 1,303

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.51%

#14. Russia

– Number of residents: 1,392

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.62%

#13. Honduras

– Number of residents: 1,437

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.67%

#12. Nepal

– Number of residents: 1,603

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.86%

#11. Vietnam

– Number of residents: 1,658

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.93%

#10. Colombia

– Number of residents: 1,689

– Percent of foreign born residents: 1.96%

#9. Mexico

– Number of residents: 1,943

– Percent of foreign born residents: 2.26%

#8. Germany

– Number of residents: 2,884

– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.35%

#7. Philippines

– Number of residents: 3,136

– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.64%

#6. Brazil

– Number of residents: 3,215

– Percent of foreign born residents: 3.73%

#5. United Kingdom (inc. Crown Dependencies)

– Number of residents: 3,992

– Percent of foreign born residents: 4.64%

#4. China

– Number of residents: 4,670

– Percent of foreign born residents: 5.42%

#3. Dominican Republic

– Number of residents: 6,484

– Percent of foreign born residents: 7.53%

#2. India

– Number of residents: 7,387

– Percent of foreign born residents: 8.58%

#1. Canada

– Number of residents: 7,612

– Percent of foreign born residents: 8.84%

Originally published on stacker.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news/state/biggest-sources-of-immigrants-to-new-hampshire/article_08485c9f-b6bd-58b2-aab8-6849110f910c.html

Support Group for Victims of Domestic Violence:

by David Holt | Jul 16, 2025 | Uncategorized

Nashua Music School Programs

by David Holt | Jul 8, 2025 | Uncategorized

https://www.nashuacms.org/s/Summer-Viewbook-2025-Digital.pdf