08/29/2024
Policy Memo
This Policy Memo updates Handling Applications for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, dated 06/23/2022.
Summary:
- This policy memo provides further policy guidance for applications received from Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees who have been paroled into the United States (US) between 02/24/2022 and 09/30/2024, and their family members.
- Beginning 05/21/2022, Ukrainian citizens, nationals of Ukraine and other non-Ukrainian individuals began receiving US Humanitarian Parole in two phases with the dates as follows:
- 02/24/2022 - 09/30/2023 - Initial Parole; and
- 10/01/2023 - 09/30/2024 - Extension of Parole
- Individuals paroled into the United States between these dates may be eligible for federal mainstream benefits, including SNAP, Cash and Medical assistance under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 (AUSAA) if all other financial and non-financial eligibility requirements are met.
- Individuals who are not eligible for medical coverage under Ukrainian Humanitarian Parole may be eligible for medical coverage under Emergency Medical Coverage for Noncitizens, see PM 06-05-00: Emergency Medical for Noncitizens Who Do Not Meet the Federal Qualifying Medicaid Criteria for further guidance.
- 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, this has not changed.
- 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 if they meet all factors of eligibility.
- 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).
Applications for medical benefits for Ukrainian parolees may be approved for coverage as early as 02/24/2022 when paroled on or before 09/30/2023; and 10/01/2023 when paroled between 10/01/2023 and 09/30/2024. Staff should follow instructions in this memo to request backdated medical coverage when requested for either the initial or second phase of parole issuance when requested along with any other program such as Cash or Food Assistance.
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. With the extension of humanitarian parole, the original eligibility period is unchanged, however an additional eligibility period has been added. The dates for each period of parole with eligibility periods are as follows:
- Parole Issued 02/24/2022 through 09/30/2023:
- Cash and Food Assistance eligibility begins no earlier than 05/21/2022; and
- Medical benefits, including back dated months begins no earlier than 02/01/2022.
- Parole Issued 10/01/2023 through 09/30/2024:
- Cash and Food Assistance eligibility begins no earlier than 04/24/2024; and
- Medical benefits, including back dated months begins no earlier than 10/01/2023 or 3 months prior to date of application, whichever is more recent.
Citizens or nationals of Ukraine who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has paroled into the United States between 02/24/2022 and 09/30/2024 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, Cash 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 09/30/2024 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, are eligible to receive all federal benefits, including SNAP benefits, Cash assistance (TANF, RRP) and Medical assistance.
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, are eligible to receive all federal benefits, including SNAP benefits, Cash assistance (TANF, RRP) and Medical assistance.
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
Initial Eligibility for Cash and SNAP begins 05/21/2022, or the beginning of their parole whichever is later. Medical eligibility, however, may begin as early as 02/01/2022, dependent upon the application date.
Eligibility for benefits remains until the end of the individual's parole term unless amended by law or gaining another refugee related category or status. The humanitarian parole term will go beyond the 12 months of benefits normally assigned to refugees. Staff should review the documents provided to determine the length of humanitarian parole.
Individuals eligible under AUSAA are exempt from sponsor deeming requirements (SNAP and TANF).
Initial Parole Entry Dates
Ukrainians and Non-Ukrainians paroled by DHS between 02/24/2022 and 09/30/2023 are eligible to receive federal Cash and SNAP benefits beginning 05/21/2022 or the date of their parole whichever is later. Medical eligibility, however, may begin as early as 02/01/2022, dependent on the application date.
Example: Madina and her 4 children were granted parole into the United States from Ukraine on 02/24/2022. 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 other eligibility requirements for SNAP, TANF and Medical assistance.
Processing Instruction:
- Register the application in IES for all Programs and medical backdate months of April and March 2022. Enter US Date of Entry as 05/21/2022 in IES.
- Create case comment, "US Date of Entry entered into IES was 05/21/2022 due to the request for Medical, Cash and SNAP on same application. However, the true US Date of Entry for this customer is 02/24/2022. IES will allow medical back dating prior to the US Date of Entry for the full months of March and April 2022.
- An HFS 2958 must be sent to EPU to add coverage for the partial month of February 2024; dates of coverage requested should be 02/24/2022 through 02/28/2023.
Expected Outcome: In IES, eligibility for TANF and SNAP programs begins 05/21/2022; eligibility for medical benefits begins 03/01/2022 (month of application) as the applicant requested back dated medical coverage. EPU will add coverage for 02/24/2022 through 02/28/2022.
Extension of Parole Entry Dates
Effective 04/24/2024, an extension was granted for Ukrainians and Non-Ukrainian Individuals to be paroled into the US between 10/01/2023 and 09/30/2024, while setting a new eligibility date for Cash and SNAP.
The begin date for Cash and SNAP eligibility for individuals paroled between 10/01/2023 and 09/30/2024 is 04/24/2024 or the date of parole, whichever is later. Medical eligibility, however, may be back dated up to 3 months prior to date of application but no earlier than 10/01/2023, if eligibility is met.
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: Pavlo, his wife and their 3 minor children arrive in the US on 03/18/2024 and received humanitarian parole on 03/27/2024. Pavlo submitted an application for Cash, Food and Medical assistance for all members of the family on 04/28/2024. All documents verifying USCIS Status and other factors of eligibility were provided at application.
Processing Instruction:
- Register the application in IES for all Programs
- Enter US Date of Entry as 04/28/2024 with case comment indicating "US Date of Entry entered into IES was 04/28/2024 due to the request for Cash, Food and Medical on the same application. However, the true US Date of Entry for this customer is 03/18/2024."
Expected Outcome: In IES, eligibility for TANF and SNAP programs begins 04/28/2024; eligibility for medical benefits begins 01/01/2024 as the applicant requested back dated medical coverage.
Example: Daniela and her 2 children entered the US on 11/07/2023 and were granted humanitarian parole on 11/17/2023. Daniela applies for SNAP, Cash and Medical assistance on 12/02/2023, for herself and children; she is asking for back dated coverage for unpaid medical bills. She submits copies of immigration documents indicating a class of admission of UHP for each individual on the application. Daniela and her 2 children meet all other eligibility requirements for SNAP, TANF and Medical assistance.
Processing Instruction:
- Register the application in IES for all Programs and medical backdate months of December and November 2023.
- Enter US Date of Entry as 04/24/2024 with case comment indicating "US Date of Entry entered into IES was 04/24/2024 due to the request for Medical, Cash and SNAP on same application. However, the true US Date of Entry for this customer is 11/07/2023". IES will allow medical back dating prior to the US Date of Entry for the full month of December 2023.
- An HFS 2958 must be sent to EPU to add coverage for the partial month of November 2023; dates of coverage requested should be 11/17/2023 through 11/30/2023.
Expected Outcome: In IES, eligibility for TANF and SNAP programs begins 04/24/2024; eligibility for medical benefits begins with date of parole or 3 months prior to date of application, whichever is more recent.
VTTC
Ukrainians and Non-Ukrainians that enter the U.S from Ukraine may qualify for cash and food assistance under the VTTC program if not eligible for assistance under the AUSAA.
If any individual is denied federal cash or SNAP benefits due to failure to meet USCIS/Citizenship, staff should ensure VTTC questions are addressed in IES on the Non-Citizens - Details screen.
Example: Vira enters the U.S. from Ukraine on 05/23/2024. 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 indicating she has filed to seek asylum. 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 if all other factors of eligibility are met.
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, 2024.
- 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 screens
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:
- Parole Date 02/24/2022 through 09/30/2023
- 05/21/2022 or Date of parole, whichever is greater.
- Parole Date 10/01/2023 through 09/30/2024
- 04/24/2024 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:
- Parole Date 02/24/2022 through 09/30/2023
- 05/21/2022 or Date of parole, whichever is greater.
- Parole Date 10/01/2023 through 09/30/2024
- 04/24/2024 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]
Dulce M. Quintero
Secretary-Designate, Illinois Department of Human Services
Elizabeth Whitehorn
Director, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
