Handling Applications for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees

Illinois Department of Human Services logo
Illinoins Department of HEalthcare and Family Services logo

06/23/2022

Policy Memo

Summary:

  • This policy memo provides policy for applications received from Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees who have been paroled into the United States (U.S.) between 02/24/2022 and 09/30/2023.
  • Beginning 05/21/2022, Ukrainian citizens, nationals of Ukraine and other non-Ukrainian individuals paroled into the US between 02/24/2022 and 09/30/2023, are eligible to receive all federal mainstream benefits, including SNAP benefits, Cash assistance (TANF, RRP) and Medical assistance under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 (AUSAA) if all financial and non-financial eligibility requirements are met.
  • The spouses and children of such individuals, and parents, legal guardians, and primary caregivers of unaccompanied minors, are also eligible if paroled after 09/30/2023.
  • Individuals eligible under AUSAA are exempt from sponsor deeming requirements (SNAP/TANF).
  • Individuals ineligible under AUSAA, may qualify under the Victims of Trafficking, Torture, and Other Serious Crimes (VTTC) program.
  • Applications received from Ukrainian Parolees are to be routed to the IDHS FCRC Special Units, Region 1N (Office 209) for processing.

Beginning 05/21/2022, the AUSAA allows federal benefits including SNAP benefits, Cash assistance (TANF, RRP), and Medical assistance to specific Ukrainian populations and other non-Ukrainian individuals displaced from Ukraine if they meet all financial and non-financial eligibility requirements.

Individuals eligible under AUSAA are exempt from sponsor deeming requirements (SNAP and TANF).

Ukrainian and Non-Ukrainian Individuals

The AUSAA allows Ukrainian Parolees and Non-Ukrainian qualifying Parolees to receive federal benefits even though they do not meet existing immigration requirements. They must meet all financial and non-financial requirements to receive federal benefits. Eligibility begins 05/21/2022, or the beginning of their parole whichever is later. Eligibility for benefits remains until the end of the individual's parole term unless amended by law or gaining other refugee related category or status.

  • Citizens or nationals of Ukraine who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has paroled into the United States between 02/24/2022, and 09/30/2023 due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit, known as Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHPs) are eligible to receive all federal benefits, including SNAP benefits, Cash (TANF, RRP) and Medical assistance.
  • Non-Ukrainian individuals who last habitually resided in Ukraine, who DHS has paroled into the United States between 02/24/2022, and 09/30/2023 due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit are also eligible to receive all Federal benefits, including SNAP benefits, Cash assistance (TANF, RRP) and Medical assistance.
  • Spouses or unmarried children under the age of 21 of Ukrainian citizens or nationals of Ukraine and non-Ukrainian individuals who are paroled into the U.S after 09/30/2023.
  • A parent, legal guardian, or primary caregiver of an unaccompanied refugee minor or an unaccompanied child to Ukrainian citizens or nationals of Ukraine and non-Ukrainian individuals who are paroled into the U.S after 09/30/2023.

Documentation

The following chart lists the immigration status or category of applicant eligible for assistance and the acceptable documentation:

Immigration Status or Category of Applicant Acceptable Documentation
Ukrainian citizen or national who received humanitarian parole (known as a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee, or UHP).

Form I-94 noting humanitarian parole (per INA section 212(d)(5) or 8 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(5))

Or

Foreign passport with DHS/CBP admission stamp noting "DT"

Or

Foreign passport with DHS/CBP admission stamp noting Uniting for Ukraine or "U4U"

Or

Foreign passport with DHS/CBP admission stamp noting Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee or "UHP"

Or

Form I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) receipt notice with code C11

Or

Form I-766 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with the code C11
A non-Ukrainian individual who last habitually resided in Ukraine and received humanitarian parole.

Any one of the forms or stamps listed above for UHPs

And

Documentation of last habitual residence in Ukraine. Acceptable documentation indicating last habitual residency in Ukraine includes an original Ukrainian government-issued document, such as a current driver's license or identification card.

Eligibility

Ukrainians and Non-Ukrainians paroled by DHS between 02/24/2022 and 09/30/2023 are eligible to receive federal benefits beginning 05/21/2022 or the date of their parole whichever is later. Eligibility for benefits remains until the end of the individual's parole term unless amended by law or receipt of another refugee related status.

Individuals eligible under AUSAA are exempt from sponsor deeming requirements (SNAP and TANF).

Example: Madina and her 4 children enter the United States from Ukraine on 03/30/2022. Madina applies for SNAP, TANF and Medical assistance on 03/31/2022. She submits copies of passports with a DHS/CBP admission stamp noting "DT" for her and the children. Madina and her 4 children meet all eligibility requirements for SNAP, TANF and Medical assistance. Eligibility for assistance begins 05/21/2022.  Note: Since medical eligibility always begins the first of the month, medical assistance will have a start date of 05/01/2022.

VTTC

Ukrainians and Non-Ukrainians that enter the U.S from Ukraine may qualify for cash and food assistance under the VTTC program if they not eligible for assistance under the AUSAA. Refer to Policy Memo 02/21/2018, Cash and Food Assistance for Non-Citizens of Trafficking, Torture and other Serious Crimes and Policy Memo 04/20/2022 Special Units Now Handling Non-Citizen Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or Other Serious Crimes Cases for policy on the VTTC program.

Example: Vira enters the U.S. from Ukraine on 05/23/2022. She later applies for assistance and submits a copy of an appointment notice from the Application Support Center of the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. The appointment notice notes a "Case Type" I-589 Application For Asylum and For Withholding of Removal. Since Vira has no other documentation showing immigration status that would qualify her for federal benefits, she may qualify for cash and food assistance under the VTTC program.

Special Units/Applications

Applications received from Ukrainian Parolees are to be routed to IDHS FCRC Special Units Region 1N (Office 209). Applications identified as potentially eligible for Expedited SNAP should be processed within the Expedited SNAP timeframe.

Application Processing IES

  • Ukrainians paroled into the U.S. between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023.
  • Eligible for Federal SNAP/TANF/RRP and/or Medical assistance.
  • Date of Application: see Eligibility above. Enter case comment to reflect this occurrence.
  • Some Possible Documents for Verification: see Documentation above.
  • US Date of Entry must be 05/21/2022 or the date of parole whichever is greater.

Entries for IES pages

Individual Information

  • Date of Birth - Date of birth documents.
  • SSN - Blank (if not provided and/or has applied for one).
  • SSN Verification - Not Provided (if not provided and/or applied for one).

Individual Interviewed/Applicant Details

  • Interview Mode - In Person.

Relationship Details

  • Relationship Verification = Other Acceptable (unless other valid verification provided).

Education Details (unless other valid verification/responses)

  • Status - Not Graduated.
  • Highest Level - Unknown.
  • Enrollment - Not Enrolled.
  • Verification - Other Acceptable.

Citizenship/Residency

  • ID Verification - Immigration Documents (Government Issued).
  • Residency - Document from US Dept. of Homeland Security (unless other valid verification).

Individual Demographics - SSN Application/Armed Services (if not provided and/or are applying for one)

  • SSN Applied For - Yes.
  • SSN App Date - 05/21/2022 or Date of parole, whichever is greater.
  • SSN App Verification - SN-5028 Receipt for Application for a Social Security Number.

Non-Citizen Details

  • Non-Citizen Admission Status - Documented.
  • Non-Citizen Type/Doc - Refugee I-94 annotated with 207. Document in Case comments the actual form provided in place of this entry.
  • Non-Citizen Type Verification - Other INS Records.
  • US Date of Entry - 05/21/2022 or date of parole whichever is greater.
  • Country of Issuance- Ukraine Note: This must be entered for IES case identification in the future.
  • Non-Citizen 40 Qualifying Quarters - No.
  • Sponsor - No.

Family Assessment Details/RSP

Complete during interview and in correlation with services from other Refugee Services/Entities. Have Head of Household sign RSP and upload to Electronic Case Record (ECR).

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Theresa Eagleson

Director, Healthcare and Family Services