Government Help for Immigrants

If you're an immigrant in Oregon and you're having money problems or struggling to pay for food, rent, or utilities, the government may be able to help.

This article helps you understand government assistance in Oregon, how to figure out if you qualify for government aid, and what you need to know about public charge rules. 

Who can get government aid in Oregon?

Many immigrants in Oregon can get government help. Your ability to get help depends on:

• Your income: Most programs help people with low incomes and few resources, such as cars or money in the bank.
• Family size: Some programs are only for people with children.
• Immigration status: Your immigration status affects which programs you can use.
• Years in the U.S.: For some categories of immigrants, you can only get government aid if you've lived in the U.S. for a certain number of years.
• Work history: Some programs are only for people who have worked in the U.S. and paid taxes.

Government benefit programs in Oregon

There are many different government benefit programs for people living in Oregon. These programs include cash, food, medical, and housing assistance programs for people who don't have much money. There are also programs for people unable to work or older people, such as disability benefits, Paid Leave Oregon, Medicare health insurance, and Social Security retirement benefits. 

Refer to this guide for more information about government benefit programs in Oregon.

Public charge rules

If you use government aid, you should be aware of public charge rules. These rules apply to some immigrants, but not all. These rules allow federal immigration officials to refuse to grant a green card (also known as Lawful Permanent Residency or LPR status) to certain immigrants they believe are likely to become dependent on the U.S. government for basic needs, such as food, housing, and medical care.

The public charge rule does not apply to many, many types of immigrants. Check here for more information about which immigrants are exempt from the public charge rule. 

If public charge rules apply to you, the government will consider whether you have used government assistance in the past. However, this is just one factor the immigration officer will look at. Your application can still be approved if you can demonstrate that you are currently financially stable.

The right to get help in your language

If you don't speak English fluently, you have rights when using government services or programs. In Oregon, government agencies and organizations must provide interpreters to people who do not speak English fluently. This means you can ask for help in your preferred language.

You can learn more about language access rights here.

Next steps

If you are interested in applying for government aid, but aren't sure which programs you qualify for or if public charge rules apply to you, you can call the Oregon Public Benefit Hotline. This hotline is staffed by lawyers and trained advocates who work for Oregon's legal aid programs. You can call the hotline for help if you have questions about:

• Your eligibility for government benefits.
• Public charge questions.
• Changes to your benefits.
• Problems with your benefits, like overpayments or fraud.
• Not getting help in the language you speak.
• Other issues with your benefits.

Find the hotline hours and phone number here.