Public benefits training materials, regulations, statutes and best practices. The topic also includes information workplace sexual assault and its affect on victim’s economic stability. For information on child and spousal support and economic relief available through protection orders see the family law section of this website.
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- Index of Significant Public Benefits Training Materials
- Index of Significant Education Training Materials
- Post-Assault Healthcare
- Public Benefits State Charts & Maps
- Unemployment
- CAREAS Act Covid-19 Relief
- NILC: State-Funded SSI Replacement Programs
- Labor Law Remedies
- Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
- National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
- NILC: Medical Assistance Programs for Immigrants in Various States
- State-Funded SSI Replacement Programs (September 2022)
Some publicly funded supports are open to all persons without regard to immigration status. Other state and federal public benefits are only open to certain categories of immigrants. When immigrant survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking and other crimes begin the process of filing for protections under U.S. immigration laws, […]
The resources below suggests various interim measures for colleges, universities, high-schools, elementary schools, and other educational institutions to utilize when assisting foreign-born students who have been victims of sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking. NIWAP Materials Interim and Supportive Measures to Help and Protect Foreign Born Student Victims of Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Stalking and […]
NIWAP has developed comprehensive charts tracking state laws on forced labor, involuntary servitude, slavery, slave trade, and peonage, which are not expressly included on the U visa criminal activity list, and identified the qualifying criminal activities on the U visa list that are contained within these state statutes. The goal of these charts is to […]
The National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP) and the National Housing Law Project co-presented this webinar on the legal rights of immigrant survivors to access federally funded housing. For many survivors of domestic and sexual violence, the ability to secure decent, safe, and affordable housing is critical to long-term survival. Yet, immigrant survivors of domestic […]
Public Charge The public charge ground of inadmissibility refers to the barring of a foreign national from obtaining lawful permanent resident status if he or she is likely to become a public charge (primarily dependent on government subsistence). Under the new rule, USCIS will review: Your age, health, family status, financial status (including assets and […]
Legal Rights Overviews and Brochures Multilingual Materials for Victims and Advocates DHS Infographic: Protection for Immigrant Victims Immigration Options for Victims of Crime – DHS Brochure World Language Identification Guide: I Speak (Raksha) Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the United States and Facts about Immigrating on a […]
Federal law provides access to various medical benefits for both qualified and unqualified immigrants: Qualified immigrants include: (1) LPRs, including Amerasian immigrants; (2) refugees, asylees, persons granted withholding of deportation/removal, conditional entry, or paroled into the U.S. for at least one year; (3) Cuban/Haitian entrants; (4) certain victims of trafficking; and (4) battered spouses and […]
February 14, 2017 Announcement from NIWAP and Raksha USCIS is now accepting employment authorization applications from abused immigrant spouses of H, G, A and E (3) visa holders. The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 amended Section 106 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide access to legal work authorization for abused spouses of […]
NIWAP has developed a number of checklists that assist attorneys and advocates working with immigrant survivors to prepare for a variety of legal cases on behalf of immigrant survivors. Some of the following checklists are geared toward preparing to accompany a victim who will be applying for state or federal public benefits that the victim […]
January 26, 2017 (Update 2022) As a key part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed by Congress in 1996 and 2003, battered immigrant spouses and children abused by their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouses or parents who had filed applications for immigration relief under VAWA have access to public and assisted […]
August 12, 2016 Below is an important letter released jointly by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that reminds recipients of federal funds how the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 applies to their programs. […]
This is a comprehensive manual that provides information that will be useful to advocates, attorneys, justice, and social services professionals working with and assisting immigrant survivors of sexual assault. This manual will help advocates and professionals expand their knowledge and capacity to aid immigrant victims of sexual assault in accessing justice under federal and state civil, […]
Breaking Barriers is a comprehensive manual that provides information that will be useful to advocates, attorneys, justice, and social services professionals working with and assisting immigrant survivors of domestic and family violence. This Manual provides a detailed overview explanation of immigrant survivors’ legal rights under immigration, family, public benefits, and criminal laws and their rights to […]
An interactive map providing state-by-state data on the demographics of and public benefits available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The benefits outlined include: TANF, healthcare, post-assault care, pre-natal care, emergency Medicaid, forensic exams, child care, driver’s licenses, food programs, in-state tuition, SSI, and energy/weatherization. https://map.niwap.org/
Can DACAmented or undocumented students receive financial aid? The answer depends on the source of the financial aid funds. Federal: Undocumented students are ineligible for all forms of federal financial aid. State: In a limited number of states (Texas, New Mexico, California, Minnesota, and Washington), undocumented students are eligible to receive state grants and/or scholarships. […]