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Example Mr. and Mrs. Mehta emigrated from India and both worked in 1997. Each earned enough to be credited with four countable quarters based on their own earnings. Because the quarters of spouses can be added together when determining immigrant eligibility for benefits, both Mr. and Mrs. Mehta are credited with eight countable quarters for purposes of determining if they meet the 40-quarter exemption. • Hmong/Laotian Exemption: Some lawfully present immigrants (these immigrants do not have to be 'qualified') who would otherwise be ineligible for FS are eligible if they were a member of a Hmong or Laotian tribe when the tribe rendered assistance to US personnel during the Vietnam era. The spouse, unmarried dependent child, or the surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of such an immigrant also are considered part of this category. • Native American Exemption: Some otherwise ineligible American Indians born in Canada and certain other tribal members born outside the US (including non-qualified immigrants) are eligible for Medicaid, FS, and SSI. These immigrants do not receive special treatment under TANF but may be eligible if they otherwise fit into an eligible immigrant category. • Lawfully Present: Individuals who have INS authorization to be in the country. • Lawfully Residing: Individuals who have INS authorization to be in the country and who are not in the country on a temporary basis such as a student or tourist. • Disability-Related Benefits: These include SSI, SSDI, railroad retirement disability, veteran’s disability, Federal retirement disability, Interim Disability Assistance (IDA), and disability- related Medicaid (SR for disabled). • Amerasian: Child fathered by a US citizen in certain Southeast Asian countries during the years of conflict in that region. These immigrants have been granted LPR status. • Refugee: Person who has left their country of origin and is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. • Asylee: Person already admitted to the US, who requests permission to stay because of persecution or fear of persecution in their country of origin. • Parolee: Person admitted to the US or permitted to stay in the US based upon a decision of the Department of Justice that this serves the public interest. Parole may be granted for humanitarian, legal or medical reasons.

Eligibility Charts 7.4.2 ALL The following charts describe the immigration-related eligibility requirements for MA, TANF/GC, and FS. In addition, a chart showing SSI/IDA eligibility has been included to assist SSRs who get questions from customers about SSI eligibility rules. When using these charts, it is important to note that many immigrants will fall into more than one immigrant category. In such cases, the immigrant is eligible for the program benefit if s/he falls into at least one eligible category. MA Immigration Category Circumstances Under Which Immigrant Is Eligible for MEDICAID OR D.C. MEDICAL CHARITIES (other than Emergency Medicaid) Immigrants Receiving SSI Eligible See the SSI table for information on immigrant eligibility for SSI. Qualified Immigrant Eligible if: • entered the country before August 22, 1996; • meets veteran exemption; • meets Native American exception; or • entered the country on or after August 22, 1996 and has been in the U.S. in a 'qualified status' for more than 5 years (no one qualified under this category until August