You must be logged in to bookmark pages. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but are lawfully present, you may still be able to get Medicare, depending on your circumstances. Specifically, you will qualify for Medicare even if you are not a U.S. citizen if you qualify to receive
or currently receive Social Security retirement benefits, Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). In any of these cases, you will qualify for premium-free Part A. You will owe a premium for Part B. SSI Eligibility for Non-CitizensSSA refers to non-citizens as “aliens.” In general, beginning August 22, 1996, most non-citizens (i.e. aliens) must meet two requirements to be potentially eligible for SSI:
A non-citizen/alien must also meet all of the other rules for SSI eligibility, including the limits on income and resources. Who is a Qualified Alien?There are seven categories of qualified aliens, as determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
In addition, individuals can be a “deemed qualified alien” if, under certain circumstances, they, their child or their parent were subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by a family member while in the United States. Additional Eligible Alien CategoriesVictims of Severe Forms of Human Trafficking:May be eligible for SSI under certain circumstances if the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement and DHS determines that he/she meets the requirements of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Special eligibility for nationals of Iraq or Afghanistan:Iraqi or Afghan nationals who were admitted to the U.S. as a special immigrant may qualify for seven years of SSI benefits if they served as a translator/interpreter for the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq or Afghanistan or if they worked for the U.S. government in Iraq. Under what Conditions may a Qualified Alien be Eligible for SSI Benefits?Individuals in one of the seven categories listed above may be eligible for SSI if they also meet one of the following conditions. The length of time they are eligible for SSI varies based on the conditions listed below: Immigrants Eligible Indefinitely for Benefits
IMPORTANT: Individuals who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996 may not be eligible for SSI for the first five years as an LAPR even if they have 40 qualifying quarters of coverage. There are some exceptions to this. Contact SSA if the applicant is within the first five years as an LAPR.
Immigrants Eligible for up to Seven Years of Benefits (after immigration status is obtained)
What Happens after Seven Years for those with time-limited benefits?During the seven-year period of potential eligibility, non-citizens are expected to work toward becoming U.S. citizens. If they do not, eligibility will stop after seven years. Example: Elliot arrives in 2008, and is given refugee status, which establishes his potential SSI eligibility for seven years through 2015. In 2009, he becomes disabled and applies for SSI. Once approved, he would receive six years of benefits as there are six years left of his SSI eligibility. During this time, he needs to apply for citizenship, if he has not already done so. SSA will send reminders to notify qualified aliens when their seven-year eligibility period ends. Beneficiaries will receive another letter explaining their rights to appeal before SSA stops payments.
Who is a Refugee or Asylee?A refugee or asylee is any person who is outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.
History of Battery and Cruelty for ImmigrantsAs noted above, a history of battery and cruelty within the U.S. may extend SSI eligibility for those non-citizens who do not fit the above categories, and they may be a “deemed qualified alien”
Additional ResourcesSSA Translator ServicesSSA offers written materials about SSI in 15 different languages and has interpreters available to assist applicants who have difficulty with English. For more information, visit SSA’s Multilanguage Gateway and their interpreter services page. SSA Website
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