§ 16-5 — Termination of benefits

(a) Any cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article to a person who is a foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and his or her derivative family members shall be terminated if there is a final denial of that person's visa or asylum application under Section 1101(a)(15)(T), 1101(a)(15)(U), or 1158 of Title 8 of the United States Code. (b) A person who is a foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and his or her derivative family members shall be ineligible for continued State-funded cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article if that person has not filed a formal application for status pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(T), 1101(a)(15)(U), or 1158 of Title 8 of the United States Code within one year after the date of his or her application for cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article. The Department of Human Services may extend the person's and his or her derivative family members' eligibility for medical assistance, cash assistance, or SNAP benefits beyond one year if the Department determines that the person, during the year of initial eligibility (i) experienced a health crisis, (ii) has been unable, after reasonable attempts, to obtain necessary information from a third party, or (iii) has other extenuating circumstances that prevented the person from completing his or her application for status.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)