Medicaid
Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).
Key difference in this state
๐ Nevada HAS adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion โ effective 2014 (then-Governor Brian Sandoval was the first Republican governor to commit to expanding Medicaid). In practice a low-income adult aged 19-64 can qualify for Medicaid on income alone as long as household income is at or below 138% FPL โ without needing to be pregnant, raising a child, or aged/blind/disabled. Nevada Medicaid is operated by the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP), with eligibility handled by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS), both under Nevada DHHS; apply via Nevada Health Link, HealthCare.gov, access.nv.gov, or by phone at 800-318-2596. ๐๐ Nevada is notably immigrant-friendly here โ and unlike many states that adopted ยง214 only for CHILDREN, Nevada adopted the federal 'lawfully residing' option (CHIPRA ยง214 / ICHIA) for BOTH children AND pregnant women: (a) lawfully residing immigrant children under 19 can enroll in Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up without the five-year wait (SB 325, effective July 1, 2017); (b) lawfully residing immigrant pregnant individuals can get Medicaid for prenatal care, labor/delivery, and postpartum without the five-year bar (a CMS-approved State Plan Amendment, effective January 1, 2023). 'Lawfully residing' covers qualified non-citizens (lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, parolees admitted for at least a year, Cuban/Haitian entrants, certain abused non-citizens, etc.) and some other lawful statuses. This is a substantive difference from Utah/Iowa/Kentucky, which adopted ยง214 only for children โ do not carry over their 'pregnant not confirmed' narrative. Pregnancy Medicaid reaches about 165% FPL, and Nevada has extended postpartum coverage to 12 months. ๐ด The honest boundary: ยง214 covers LAWFULLY RESIDING immigrants โ it does not extend state-funded full Medicaid to UNDOCUMENTED adults, and we did not find such a state-funded program in Nevada (reported honestly as 'not found,' not a claim that none can exist). For an undocumented pregnant woman, the confirmed door remains Emergency Medicaid for labor and delivery. ๐ด๐ด Federal status rules / five-year bar exceptions / 2025 OBBBA changes / public charge live on the federal Medicaid program details (canonical), which this row does not repeat or change. ๐ด Public charge: under the current (2022) federal rule, regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test โ receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application; the only exception is Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care. Because your situation is individual, do not decide this yourself; see the federal public-charge guidance and consult USCIS or an immigration attorney. This is a changing area โ verify with DWSS/DHCFP.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Public health coverage for children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage. It is jointly funded by the federal and state governments (Title XXI of the Social Security Act). Each state designs and runs its own program under federal rules โ as a separate CHIP, as a Medicaid-expansion CHIP, or both โ so the name, income limits, and details differ by state (state eligibility levels range from about 170% to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level). Besides children, some states' separate CHIP programs also cover pregnant women.
Key difference in this state
Nevada Check Up is Nevada's health insurance for uninsured children under 19 whose family income is too high for children's Medicaid but who still need coverage; it dovetails with children's Medicaid, reaching about 200% FPL. It is operated by DHCFP, and you apply at access.nv.gov / dwss.nv.gov. ๐๐ Immigration: Nevada adopted the federal 'lawfully residing children' option (CHIPRA ยง214 / ICHIA, SB 325, effective July 1, 2017) โ lawfully residing immigrant children under 19 can enroll in Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up without the five-year wait; eligible categories include lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, parolees admitted for at least a year, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and certain abused non-citizens. ๐ด On pregnant women: Nevada covers pregnancy through Medicaid (lawfully residing pregnant women via ยง214 without the five-year bar; undocumented pregnant women via Emergency Medicaid) โ see the Medicaid row; it is not within Nevada Check Up. ๐ด Public charge: CHIP (children's health insurance) does NOT count in the current (2022) federal public charge test โ enrolling your child does not affect your or your child's green card / immigration application. Because your situation is individual, do not decide this yourself; see the federal public-charge guidance and consult USCIS or an immigration attorney. This is a changing area โ verify with DHCFP/DWSS.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, "food stamps")
Monthly food benefits that help low-income households buy the food they need. Benefits come on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card โ EBT has been the sole method of SNAP issuance in all states since June 2004 โ which you swipe like a bank card at authorized grocery stores. The benefit amount is based on the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan, updated each year to keep pace with food prices, and depends on your household size and how much monthly income is left after certain expenses are deducted. It is a federal program (USDA Food and Nutrition Service), but state public assistance agencies run it through their local offices โ you must apply in the state where you currently live, so the application and the local name vary by state (California calls it CalFresh). Benefits generally arrive no later than 30 days after the office receives your application; households with little or no money that need help right away may get benefits within 7 days.
Key difference in this state
Nevada SNAP (food stamps) is administered by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS); apply at access.nv.gov. ๐ด Income limits: Nevada uses broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE), so most households have a gross income line of 200% FPL (above the federal 130% standard), with net income still required at 100% FPL. Under BBCE there is generally no asset test (eliminated); but households where all members are 60+ or disabled and income exceeds the limit still face a $4,500 asset cap. ๐ด Immigration status: SNAP follows the federal non-citizen rules โ a qualified immigrant generally must meet the five-year bar and its exceptions (refugees/asylees exempt), and qualified immigrant children are generally exempt from the five-year bar; an undocumented person is not eligible for SNAP themselves, but their eligible family members (e.g., citizen children) can apply, counting only the eligible members. See the SNAP federal program's status rules, which this row does not repeat. ๐ด Public charge: under the current (2022) rule, SNAP (food stamps) does NOT count in the public charge test โ receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. Because your situation is individual, do not decide this yourself; see the federal public-charge guidance and consult an immigration attorney. This is a changing area โ verify with DWSS.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Nutrition support for pregnancy and early childhood. In USDA's own words, WIC "serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care." Coverage runs from pregnancy until a child turns 5: pregnant women; postpartum women (up to 6 months after the end of a pregnancy); breastfeeding women (up to the infant's first birthday); infants; and children up to their fifth birthday. Every applicant first gets a free, simple health check by WIC staff, and must be individually determined to be at nutrition risk by a health professional โ two major types are recognized: medically-based risks such as anemia, underweight, a history of pregnancy complications, or poor pregnancy outcomes; and dietary risks such as inappropriate feeding practices or failure to meet the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Food benefits come on an eWIC card, which works just like a debit card and can be used at WIC-approved grocery stores and farmers' markets. Benefits are not limited to food: they also include health screening, nutrition and breastfeeding counseling, immunization screening and referral, and substance abuse referral. It is a federal program (USDA), but in USDA's words, "while funded through grants from the Federal Government, WIC is administered by 89 State agencies," with services at county health departments, hospitals, schools, Indian Health Service facilities, and other clinic locations โ you apply through a WIC agency in your area, so the local name and process vary. Moms, dads, foster parents, and anyone else raising kids under 5 can apply for the kids in their care.
Key difference in this state
๐ This is the most important โ and most reassuring โ fact on this page for immigrant families: WIC applies no immigration-status test. You do not need to be a citizen, do not need a green card, and do not need a Social Security number to apply for WIC โ you only need to meet the income and category rules. This is a federal feature: WIC is not a means-tested federal benefit that counts under the public charge test, and receiving WIC does not affect your or your family's ability to get a green card or naturalize later; USDA states plainly that 'WIC is available regardless of immigration status' and 'citizenship is not required to participate,' and WIC clinics do not collect or share immigration/citizenship information. ๐ At the Nevada layer: Nevada WIC is operated by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH); eligibility looks only at Nevada residency, meeting the income guidelines (below, 185% FPL), and being in a served category (pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children under 5); if you already participate in Medicaid/SNAP/TANF you can be automatically income-eligible through 'adjunctive eligibility.' ๐ด An honest note on scope: we report faithfully that we did not find a citizenship/immigration or SSN requirement in Nevada's official WIC materials (an honest did-not-find), and we rest the affirmative 'no status test' point on the federal WIC norm; policy can change, so verify with your local WIC clinic. ๐ด Do not carry this over to Nevada SNAP, which has federal status rules and is a wholly separate matter from WIC; read each program on its own page.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
A refundable federal tax credit for low- to moderate-income working people and families. In the IRS's words, the EITC "helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe โ and maybe increase your refund." The key word is refundable โ as the IRS puts it, "This is a refundable credit, so you can get back more than you pay in taxes." In plain terms: you can get money back even if you owe no tax at all. You must have earned income (wages, salary, tips, or self-employment income), and you claim it on your federal tax return โ there is no separate application form, no office to visit, and no waiting list. The credit is larger if you have qualifying children, but workers without any children can also get a smaller version. For tax year 2025 (the return you file in 2026), the maximum credit is $649 with no qualifying children, $4,328 with one, $7,152 with two, and $8,046 with three or more. The tax year 2025 income cutoffs (adjusted gross income) are $19,104 (single, head of household, married filing separately, or qualifying surviving spouse) or $26,214 (married filing jointly) with no children; $50,434 / $57,554 with one child; $57,310 / $64,430 with two; and $61,555 / $68,675 with three or more. Investment income must be $11,950 or less for tax year 2025. These amounts are adjusted every year โ rely on the IRS tables for the year you are actually filing. This is a purely federal program, administered directly by the IRS under one nationwide set of rules; states have no role in the federal EITC. But note: separately from this federal credit, many states and some local governments run their own state EITC, usually set as a percentage of the federal credit, varying in whether it is refundable, and sometimes with different rules โ see your state's details.
Key difference in this state
EITC has two layers, but in Nevada only the federal layer applies. The federal EITC is a refundable tax credit for low-to-moderate-income workers (it pays out even if you owe no tax). ๐ด A key status requirement: to claim the federal EITC you, your spouse, and each qualifying child must have a Social Security number valid for employment; a person with only an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) cannot claim the federal EITC. ๐ด Nevada has NO state EITC โ because Nevada has no state personal income tax (nationwide, Washington is the only no-income-tax state that still created an EITC). So Nevada residents can claim only the federal EITC, with no additional state credit (this is unlike states with an income tax such as Utah's 20% nonrefundable or Iowa's 15% refundable credit). ๐ด Public charge: tax credits (including the EITC) are not a benefit the public charge test considers, and claiming one does not affect your green card or immigration application. For your individual status details, consult the IRS, a tax professional, or an immigration attorney; this is a changing area.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly federal cash payment from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for people who have very little income and few resources AND who are age 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability (children can qualify too). To get SSI, your countable resources must stay under $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. It is run directly by the federal government under one nationwide standard โ the 2026 maximum federal payment is $994/month for an individual and $1,491/month for a couple โ and some states add a small state supplement on top.
Key difference in this state
SSI is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for people 65 or older, or blind/disabled at any age, with very low income and few resources (the resource limit is generally $2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple). Nevada also runs a State Supplementary Payment that adds a small supplement for some SSI recipients โ verify the amount and who qualifies with Nevada DWSS / SSA. ๐ด๐ด Immigration status (safety-critical, be especially careful): SSI is one of the most immigration-restricted of all major benefits โ generally only specific categories of 'qualified immigrants' can even be eligible (e.g., certain refugees/asylees within a limited number of years after entry, lawful permanent residents with 40 work quarters, some active-duty military family members), and many newer lawful permanent residents are NOT eligible. Do not assume that 'having legal status means you can get SSI.' The specific status categories and exceptions live on the SSI federal program details (canonical), which this row does not repeat or change. ๐ด๐ด Public charge (a key difference from Medicaid/SNAP/WIC โ be sure to understand this): under the current (2022) public charge rule, SSI is 'cash assistance for income maintenance,' one of the few benefits an officer CAN consider in the public charge test โ unlike Medicaid/CHIP/SNAP/WIC, which do NOT count. So this row does NOT tell you that receiving SSI 'won't affect your status'; before deciding whether to apply, read the federal public-charge guidance and consult an immigration attorney about your individual case. This is a changing area โ verify with SSA/Nevada DWSS.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) gives time-limited monthly cash assistance and work supports to low-income families with children, to help them achieve economic security and stability. The federal government sends each state a block grant, and each state designs and runs its own TANF program under its own name (California calls it CalWORKs) with its own benefit amounts and rules. States set the monthly cash amount, add work-participation requirements, and set time limits within the federal 60-month (5-year) lifetime cap on federally funded assistance. Besides the monthly cash grant, TANF also funds services such as childcare, job training, and transportation.
Key difference in this state
Nevada's TANF is cash assistance for low-income families raising minor children, administered by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS), applied for at access.nv.gov. Participants (unless exempt) must cooperate with the NEON (New Employees of Nevada) employment program, create a Personal Responsibility Plan, and complete a defined number of weekly work-activity hours. ๐ด Assistance has a 60-month federal lifetime limit; Nevada also has a distinctive time-block rule: TANF-NEON households generally receive cash assistance for 24 months, then must go without for 12 consecutive months (unless they experience a qualifying hardship) โ plan accordingly and do not carry over another state's rule. Income limit: family income must generally be below 75% of the state median income. ๐ด Immigration status: TANF follows the federal 'qualified alien' and five-year-bar rules and their exceptions (refugees/asylees exempt); the specific categories are in the TANF federal program details (canonical), which this row does not repeat; in a mixed-status household, a parent who is ineligible because of status or because they receive SSI can still apply as a 'relative caregiver' for a child-only cash grant for eligible children (e.g., citizen children). ๐ด๐ด Public charge (a key difference from Medicaid/SNAP/WIC): TANF cash assistance is 'cash assistance for income maintenance,' one of the few benefits an officer CAN consider in the current (2022) public charge test. So this row does NOT tell you that receiving TANF 'won't affect your status'; before deciding whether to apply, read the federal public-charge guidance and consult an immigration attorney. This is a changing area โ verify with DWSS.
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Unemployment Insurance is temporary weekly cash paid to workers who lost their job through no fault of their own, to help you get by while you look for the next one. It is funded by taxes paid by employers (federal FUTA and state SUTA) โ workers generally do not pay into it. It is a joint federal-state program: each state runs its own unemployment insurance program under shared federal rules, so eligibility, the weekly amount, and how many weeks you can receive vary by state. You apply in the state where you worked. To qualify you generally must be unemployed through no fault of your own, meet a work-and-wages threshold in a "base period," and be currently able to work, available to work right away, and actively looking for work. The first payment usually arrives two to three weeks after you file.
Key difference in this state
Nevada Unemployment Insurance (UI) is temporary income replacement for people who lose their job through no fault of their own and have enough work history; it is administered by the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) and filed at detr.nv.gov. Eligibility requires: sufficient base-period wages (the base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before filing; you must meet one of two tests โ total base-period wages at least 1.5 times your highest-quarter wages, OR wages in at least 3 of the 4 base-period quarters โ with at least $400 in your highest quarter), job loss through no fault of your own, and being able, available, and able to accept immediate full-time work the majority of the week. ๐ด Immigration / work authorization: UI explicitly requires that you have legal work authorization. Nevada (DETR) states that only U.S. citizens or those with legal work authorization are eligible for unemployment benefits; non-citizens must provide proof of immigration status and work authorization. Someone without lawful work authorization is not eligible. ๐ด Public charge: unemployment insurance is a social-insurance benefit you earned (funded by unemployment taxes your employer paid), not a means-tested cash welfare benefit, and the current (2022) public charge rule does NOT count UI โ unlike SSI/TANF (which can count). Still, for your individual case rely on the federal public-charge guidance and an immigration attorney. This is a changing area โ verify with DETR.
Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher
The Housing Choice Voucher โ commonly called "Section 8" โ is federal rental assistance that helps very-low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the program is run locally by public housing agencies (PHAs), usually state or local government entities. You find your own rental unit that meets program housing-quality standards; after the PHA approves the unit and tenancy, it pays the rent subsidy directly to the landlord. If the rent is at or below the local "payment standard," you generally pay about 30 percent of your adjusted monthly income toward rent, and the subsidy covers the rest. It is the nation's largest rental-assistance program, helping about 2.3 million families. Because funding is limited, many areas keep a waiting list.
Key difference in this state
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) help low-income renters pay private-market rent โ you typically pay about 30% of your income toward rent and the voucher covers the rest. ๐ด In Nevada there is no single 'statewide Section 8 front door': it is run region by region by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), each with its own separate waitlist, open/closed periods, and local rules (e.g., the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority covering Clark County/Las Vegas, the Reno Housing Authority, and the Nevada Rural Housing Authority). You apply to the PHA that covers your area. ๐ด Waitlists are often very long: for example, the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority serves about 13,000 households but has roughly 44,000 more on its waitlists โ meeting the income line is by no means the same as getting a voucher soon. Eligibility is based on Area Median Income (AMI), not %FPL: generally you must be below 50% AMI, and federal rules direct at least 75% of new admissions to extremely low-income households below 30% AMI; the specific dollar lines vary by county and household size โ rely on your local PHA's current chart. ๐ด Immigration status: HUD has federal rules for assisted housing โ at least one household member must have an eligible immigration status; a 'mixed-status' household where not all members qualify receives prorated assistance based on the eligible members rather than the whole household being denied; a household with no members holding an eligible status is not eligible. The specific rules live on the housing-assistance federal program details (canonical), which this row does not repeat. ๐ด Public charge: housing assistance (Section 8 / public housing) does NOT count in the current (2022) public charge test โ receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. Because your situation is individual, do not decide this yourself; see the federal public-charge guidance and consult an immigration attorney. This is a changing area โ verify with your local PHA.
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income households pay their home energy costs โ mainly heating (winter) and cooling (summer) bills, plus energy-crisis aid (for example, when you face a shutoff or need reconnection), light home weatherization, and minor heating-equipment repair or replacement. It is a federally funded block grant managed by the Office of Community Services within HHS (HHS/ACF/OCS), and then run by each state, territory, and tribe, which set their own eligibility rules and application process. ๐ด LIHEAP does not send cash directly to individuals and never charges a fee; you apply through your state's or tribe's energy-assistance agency. The federal income ceiling is 150% of the poverty level, or 60% of state median income if that is higher; many states also grant "categorical eligibility" to households that receive TANF, SSI, SNAP, or needs-tested veterans' benefits.
Key difference in this state
Nevada's LIHEAP is called the Energy Assistance Program (EAP), which helps low-income households pay home energy costs (heating/cooling); it is delivered by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) through Northern and Southern Intake Offices, year-round. Eligibility: income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level (federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse Nevada profile, verbatim). Benefits: heating or cooling from $360 up to $3,136 per year; crisis assistance up to $3,136; Weatherization up to $10,000. Both homeowners and renters can apply. ๐ด Immigration status (reported honestly, to guard against both errors): we reviewed the federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse's official Nevada profile and did not find a citizenship/immigration requirement stated for energy assistance โ an honest did-not-find; LIHEAP status eligibility is largely set by each state and we could not confirm whether Nevada has such a requirement. So this row neither claims 'anyone can receive it regardless of status' nor asserts 'non-citizens are all excluded'; be sure to verify your status category with a DWSS energy-assistance intake office. ๐ด Public charge: energy assistance (LIHEAP) does NOT count in the current (2022) public charge test โ receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. Because your situation is individual, do not decide this yourself; see the federal public-charge guidance and consult an immigration attorney. This is a changing area โ verify with DWSS.
This page lists only the programs we've covered so far โ it does not mean these are the only benefits in this state.