We understand that this is a challenging time, and while you are worried about how to find the financial support you need, you may also worry how taking support may affect your citizenship status. The good news is that there is a lot of support you can reach for which does not impact your status under the Public Charge Rule. We encourage you to read as much about this as you can and contact your lawyer or support network for confirmation.
Filing for unemployment does not put you at risk under the Public Charge Rule. The DHS made it known in the rule that receiving unemployment benefits is not considered to be receiving a “public benefit.” This is because unemployment is an "earned benefit" that workers pay into with their paychecks. This includes both Medicare and Social Security.
Receiving government support to pay for a COVID-19 test or treatment does not put you at risk under the Public Charge Rule. This also includes vaccines, should one become available. Therefore, you should not feel afraid to go to a hospital or use vital benefits if you feel symptoms of COVID-19.
Per the US Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS) website:
“The Public Charge rule does not restrict access to testing, screening, or treatment of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. In addition, the rule does not restrict access to vaccines for children or adults to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Allowed support includes most forms of federally funded Medicaid, for those over 21 years of age. Immigrants who seek care at an ER may be eligible for emergency Medicaid and the hospital may ask the individual to apply for it. The public charge rule does not consider the use of emergency Medicaid to be a negative factor.
Emergency Medicaid Eligibility Criteria for non-citizens who don't meet the federal Medicate criteria:
Age 19 or older who meet all other factors of eligibility
Low-income uninsured immigrants who are ineligible for full Medicaid are the most most likely to be eligible for emergency Medicaid and to thus have their qualifying medical services paid for by the government.
However, not every immigration status qualifies for emergency Medicaid - examples include persons who are living in the US temporarily.
Low-income uninsured immigrants who do not qualify for emergency Medicaid may still qualify for hospital charity care programs. Receipt of these charity care programs is not a negative factor in the Public Charge Rule.
If you work in a city where social distancing or quarantine are in place and your employer, school, or university has shut down operations to prevent the spread of the virus, you should submit a statement with your application for a green card to explain how the policies have affected you. The USCIS will then take all of that evidence and documentation into consideration when evaluating your circumstances :).
For example, if you are prevented from working or attending school and must rely on public benefits for the duration of the outbreak and recovery, you can provide an explanation with supporting documents.