Public Charge Final Rule Summary from County Associations Now Available

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), CHEAC, California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH), County Behavioral Health Directors Association (CBHDA), and the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) released this week a summary document of the final public charge rule that was published in the Federal Register earlier this month.

Recall, the Trump Administration rule, set to take effect on October 15, will require individuals applying for or seeking adjustment to an immigration status or visa to establish that they are not likely at any time to become a public charge. An expanded public charge test will weigh a variety of factors, including whether an immigrant is receiving one or more specified public benefits, including non-emergency Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), housing subsidies, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, among others.

The county association summary document provides local agencies critical information in understanding how the final public charge rule will change longstanding policy and details tips and important points of which to be aware, especially for those agencies working with immigrant families. The summary document is available here. Additional immigration-related resources and information is available on the CHEAC website here.