I am undocumented but my children are here legally. Can I apply for food stamps for them?

Yes. Even though your immigration status disqualifies you from federal and state food stamps, you can apply on behalf of your children if they are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens.[3484] If you are not seeking food stamps for yourself, you are NOT required to give information about your immigration status, nor are you required to provide a Social Security Number. Although the food stamps office is only required to report you to ICE if it has tangible proof you are in the country illegally (such as a final order of deportation), it is still a good idea not to tell anyone you are undocumented. Rather, explain that you are applying for your children but are not yourself a qualified immigrant.[3485]

  1. 3484

    California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative, “Immigrant Eligibility for Food Stamps in California” (Jan. 2006), available at https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/imm_eligibility_food_stmps_CA_2006-1-11.pdf; The Guardian, “Undocumented immigrants avoid vital nutrition services for ear of deportation” (May 9, 2017), available at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/09/undocumented-immigrants-wic-nutrition-services-deportation.

  2. 3485

    Adapted from California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative, “Immigrant Eligibility for Food Stamps in California” (Jan. 2006), available at https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/imm_eligibility_food_stmps_CA_2006-1-11.pdf.