Do illegal immigrants get welfare?

[TheFarseer]

I keep hearing that and it's hard to believe that they would come here and stick out like a sore thumb in that way and also that we would give them welfare. Don't they need a social security number or proof of citizenship or something? Is this true or is it a grain of truth that republicans have spun into an enormous lie? What is the basis for this claim if it is not true? I really don't know, that's why I'm asking.

[shraby]

1. From one who unfortunately needed welfare help..

you have to give proof of everything but your shoe size in order to receive help.

[underpants]

2. No not without SSN or at least a fake one

I don't know if visas or greencard allow you to get "welfare" (no called "TANF"). You pretty much need a SSN to get or do anything with the Fed.govt.

Here are some more FACTS that I found-and they are hard to find (no one seems to be interested in facts just rhetoric)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2543277&mesg_id=2543277

[pagam]

9. You have to be

An a US citizen to get welfare. a visa or green card will not do

[underpants]

10. Okay

I wasn't sure so I just through that line out there.

[Saphire]

3. i know of a few illegals and they have both a drivers lic. and ss card.

with that, I have seen them get huge tax refunds, food stamps, medical care, and even buy houses.....
just go to the local flea market, and you can get anything.

[radwriter0555]

5. So you personally know some people here in the US illegally, who are

now working, getting huge tax refunds in addition to food stamps, medical care and buying houses?

I don't understand how people on welfare buy houses.
How does that work?

[AlCzervik]

7. i'm also curious about the home buying thing, please enlighten us.

Cash buy or mortgage and how do they explain where the down payment came from?

[Ms. Clio]

11. Details, please

I'm a "legal" Texan and I'm clearly missing out on so much that this state has to offer.

[Saphire]

12. "juan" and his wife are here, and neither one is really legal. "juan"

has a drivers lic and ss card (probably from the local flea market) this allows "juan" to get a job in the U.S. and work for peanuts...his illegal wife has 4 children all born in the US...he gets welfare for the kids,food stamps, and all other social services and at tax time, "juan" files single head of household (in the US, he is not married)and gets all the earned income credits and tax deductions for 4 kids. He has a work record for years, tax statements, and with enough income, gets a home. He is single when he needs to be, and has 4 kids when he needs them.

[Ms. Clio]

13. Are you telling me the IRS lets illegal immigrants use fake SS numbers

To file tax returns and claim deductions? I need links to more definitive information on this than simply your anecdotal evidence.

[Saphire]

15. I don't know how it all works, but I know for a fact that he is not here

legally, but I have a drivers lic. and ss# for him.....maybe he is using "juan jr's" ss#...just know what I see. There are more than one illegal here, and they all have the correct documentation for jobs.

[Beaverhausen]

14. How can someone with 4 kids working for "peanuts" buy a home?

even with the tax refunds "peanuts" won't buy a home.

[pagam]

4. It depends.

Many immigrants purchase S S # which they can use to work. If they have an american born child, that child qualifies for public assistance i.e health ins. WIC or food stamps. The parent does not get any cash. From my experience as a Social Worker, and an immigrant with undocumented families, most immigrants here illegally, do not attempt to apply for welfare. Ther are some exceptions. some Dominican nationals will come to the US thru puerto rico using fake birth certificates and S.S. # and apply for public assistance. Let me just repeat ! SOME Dominicans!

[DBoon]

6. My wife is in the Worker's Comp field

Almost NO illegals file claims, even though they legally could.

It's just not an issue.

[Cleita]

8. A friend of mine got welfare for her American born children,

mostly food stamps and medicaid when her husband left her. She got nothing because she wasn't documented although she had a legitimate SS#, which is not that hard to get if you know how. If she had been American she would have qualified for welfare too. Oh she was a blond, blue-eyed European so no one objected.