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
๐ด๐ Texas has NOT adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion โ unlike California, New York, and many other states, and this is the single most important fact for immigrants to know. As a result, Texas Medicaid has no category for low-income adults in general; it covers only narrow groups: children, pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives of a child on Medicaid (at an extremely low income limit, among the lowest in the nation), and people who are aged, blind, or have a disability. So a low-income adult in Texas who is not pregnant, is not raising a child on Medicaid, and is not aged/blind/disabled generally has NO Medicaid pathway at all โ this has nothing to do with immigration status; it is true for U.S. citizens too. For immigrants specifically: qualified non-citizens must still meet the federal rules (see the federal Medicaid program details, including the five-year bar and the 2025 OBBBA changes). Two doors stay open regardless of immigration status: (1) Emergency Medicaid, which pays for emergency care (including labor and delivery) for people who meet every other requirement but do not have a qualifying immigration status (this is a federal requirement in every state โ check details with HHSC); and (2) CHIP Perinatal, which covers prenatal care for the unborn child of a pregnant woman who does not qualify for Medicaid because of immigration status (see the separate CHIP row). Texas does not use state-only funds to cover undocumented adults or children the way California does โ we did not find any Texas state-funded Medicaid fill for immigrants excluded by the federal rules (reported honestly; not a claim that none can exist). This is a changing area โ verify with Texas HHSC and rely on the latest official guidance.
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
๐ Texas CHIP is a genuinely standalone program (not merged into Medicaid), for children in families whose income is above the Medicaid limit. On immigration, Texas CHIP runs on two legs: (1) Regular children's CHIP โ under Texas policy a child must be 'a U.S. citizen or alien with acceptable status' to qualify (matching the federal CHIP funding rule). (2) ๐ CHIP Perinatal โ this is a real pathway for pregnant women regardless of immigration status: the Texas Works Handbook (D-410) states verbatim, 'A pregnant woman does not have to meet the citizenship or alien status requirements in order to be eligible for CHIP perinatal.' It covers prenatal care for the unborn child from pregnancy through birth; the official FAQ is explicit that pregnant women with household income at or below 202% FPL who do not qualify for Medicaid because of immigration status can get CHIP Perinatal. Once the child is born, they move to Medicaid or CHIP depending on family income. โ ๏ธ One honest caveat: a pregnant woman who is potentially eligible for Medicaid but fails to provide verification of citizenship or alien status is not eligible for CHIP perinatal (per the official D-410). Applicants on temporary visas can qualify for CHIP perinatal as long as they meet residency requirements. This is a changing area โ verify with Texas HHSC.
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
Texas SNAP is the federal SNAP, run by Texas HHSC, with benefits issued on the Lone Star Card (swipe it like a bank card at authorized stores). On immigration status, Texas applies the federal SNAP rules โ including the 2025 OBBBA (H.R.1) Section 10108 narrowing of non-citizen eligibility, and the green-card five-year wait with its exemptions (these are program-level federal rules; see the federal SNAP program details and its statutory alert โ this row does not repeat them). ๐ด One honest and important conclusion: Texas has no state-funded food benefit for immigrants excluded by the federal rules, the way California has CFAP โ we did not find any Texas state-level substitute food program (reported honestly as 'not found,' not a claim that none can exist). So immigrants in Texas who are cut off by the federal rules generally have no state-funded backstop. A mixed-status household can still apply for SNAP for the eligible members (such as U.S. citizen children); household members who are not applying generally do not have to give their immigration status for the eligible members to benefit โ rely on the official Texas HHSC and yourtexasbenefits.com guidance for specifics. This is a changing area โ verify with HHSC.
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 The federal layer leaves the immigration-status question to the states (the federal rule at 7 CFR 246.7(c)(3) lets a state choose to limit WIC to citizens, nationals, and qualified aliens โ see this program's federal rule; this row does not repeat it). Texas has not taken that limiting option. On its own public WIC General Information page, Texas HHSC lists the eligibility requirements in full โ meet the income guidelines; be at nutritional risk; "Live in Texas" โ and the next line reads: "U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for eligibility." Immigration status is not among the requirements, and HHSC's "What to Bring to Your WIC Appointment" list asks for proof of identity, address, and income โ no immigration document. ๐ด An honest note on how far the wording goes: Texas's phrase ("U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for eligibility") is narrower than California's CDPH statement that "Citizenship status cannot be a factor in eligibility determinations." It is an affirmative statement by the state agency, not merely the absence of a contrary rule, but it does not go as far as California in saying status "cannot be a factor." A no-status-test for WIC is the federal norm (see this program's federal rule). Policy can change โ check with your local WIC clinic.
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
๐ด๐ The most important honest fact on this page: Texas has no state Earned Income Tax Credit. The reason is direct โ Texas has no state personal income tax, so there is no Texas individual income-tax return to attach a state credit to. (The Texas Constitution, Article VIII, Section 24-a, bars a personal income tax; voters added it in 2019.) The Texas Comptroller's EITC page describes only the federal credit, and the state's role is to promote awareness of it: "The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal income tax credit available for working people with low to moderate income." So, unlike California, New York, Washington, Illinois, or Oregon โ which run their own state EITC โ Texas has no state credit to stack on top of the federal one. ๐ด What this means for immigrant families: the federal EITC requires a Social Security number valid for employment for the filer, the spouse, and each qualifying child (this is a federal rule โ see this program's federal rule), so a family that files with ITINs cannot claim the federal EITC; and because Texas has no state EITC of its own, there is no Texas equivalent of California's CalEITC extending an earned-income credit to ITIN filers. We did not find any Texas state earned-income credit (reported honestly as "not found," not a claim that none can exist). In Texas, the federal EITC is the only one available.
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
๐ด The federal layer is not repeated here: federal SSI's strict non-citizen rules (a qualified-alien category, the further conditions, the five-year bar, and that OBBBA did not change SSI's non-citizen rules) live on the shared ssi program page. This row carries only what is specific to Texas, and answers one key question honestly: does Texas have a CAPI-style immigrant cash route like California's? (1) On the SSA sources we checked, Texas essentially adds no state supplement on top of federal SSI: SSA's "State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients โ Texas" records "No recipients" for the mandatory minimum supplementation, and the optional state supplement's scope is only "Optional state supplement provided to all SSI recipients residing in nursing or intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and whose countable income is less than $60" (a $60/month state supplement, $90 combined federal + state). So an aged, blind, or disabled person living in their own home receives, in Texas, essentially federal SSI itself with no state add-on. (2) ๐ด Does Texas then have a CAPI-style immigrant program that fills the gap for those excluded by immigration status? We did not find one โ on the sources we checked, we did not find a dedicated Texas state program that pays SSI-equivalent cash to aged, blind, or disabled immigrants excluded from federal SSI solely by immigration status (CAPI, on the sources we checked, is a California program). This is "we did not find a dedicated program," not a guarantee there is none: check with your local Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) office, 2-1-1 Texas, and your local Area Agency on Aging about any local help โ do not rule yourself out.
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
๐ด The federal layer is not repeated here: TANF's federal immigrant rules (undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded TANF; the five-year bar for most qualified aliens; which categories are exempt; and that OBBBA did not change TANF's immigrant rules) live on the shared tanf program page. This row carries the Texas specifics and answers one key question honestly: does Texas use state funds to cover TANF-excluded immigrants the way New York's Safety Net Assistance (SNA) does? On the sources we checked: Texas TANF requires the certified household member to be a U.S. citizen or an eligible immigrant / qualified alien (the federal status rules live on the shared tanf page and are not repeated here). ๐ Texas does have a state-funded TANF State Program (TANF-SP), but it exists for two-parent households, not as an immigrant route for those excluded by status โ the Texas Works Handbook A-1070 is explicit that TANF-SP may be determined when "a child lives with both of the child's natural or adoptive legal parents/stepparents, even if one or both are disqualified ... unless that disqualification is due to ... citizenship requirements," i.e. disqualification for not meeting citizenship/status requirements is expressly excluded. So TANF-SP does not extend cash to the non-qualified. ๐ด On balance, unlike New York's SNA, we did not find a Texas state-funded route that pays TANF cash to those excluded from federally funded TANF by immigration status. This is "we did not find a state-funded cash route," not a guarantee either way: check with your local Texas HHSC office or 2-1-1 Texas about what you specifically may get (and whether eligible members of your household โ for example a citizen child โ can receive a payment on their own) โ and do not rule yourself out.
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
๐ด Unemployment Insurance is an earned, insurance-type benefit, not a means-tested public benefit โ see this program's federal rule (why it is generally not subject to PRWORA's "qualified alien" / five-year-bar rules, and the OBBBA federal-funding limit on high earners with $1,000,000+ base-period wages, both live there and are not repeated here). This row carries only the immigration points as Texas applies them. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) requires work authorization at multiple points: TWC's "Ongoing Eligibility Requirements" states, "If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you are: Legally residing in the U.S. Authorized to work in the U.S.: At the time you earned your base-period wages; When you apply for benefits; While requesting benefits. Able to satisfy the requirements of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification." ๐ The key is here: Texas UI requires that you were authorized to work when you earned the base-period wages, when you apply, and while you request each week, and that you can satisfy Form I-9 employment-eligibility verification; TWC uses your Alien Registration Number to verify status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and if it cannot verify that you are currently authorized to work, benefits cannot be paid. So this is an earned route: it does not look at how low your income is, but it does require work authorization both then and now. State rules differ โ rely on the state where you worked (here, Texas's TWC).
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
๐ด There is no separate Texas state immigrant rule for Section 8, because there is no statewide Texas Section 8 โ each local PHA, and TDHCA's own program, applies HUD's federal noncitizen rules. Those federal rules (at least one household member must have an eligible immigration status, and "mixed" families can receive prorated assistance rather than being turned away entirely) live on this program's shared federal page and are not repeated here. ๐ We did not find a currently operating Texas state-level rental-voucher program with a broader-than-federal immigrant rule to add here: TDHCA's own Section 8 vouchers (the 34-county service area) are federal HUD money run under the federal noncitizen rules; and TDHCA's tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) is funded through HUD's federal HOME program with an income cap of 80% of Area Median Family Income and likewise follows the federal rules โ it is not a state-funded program with a broader immigrant rule. This row therefore does not claim any state expansion beyond the federal rule. Rely on your local PHA (or TDHCA) for how status is verified.
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
๐ด๐ด Safety-critical, verified against verbatim text: unlike Illinois, Washington, or Massachusetts, Texas CEAP's official application does condition on immigration status. TDHCA's official SAVE and U.S. Citizenship FAQ (which the current CEAP FAQ points to as the operative household-status guidance) states plainly: "only U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Qualified Alien household members are eligible for assistance," and any household member not born in a U.S. state, commonwealth or territory, or the District of Columbia must have their documents run through SAVE (the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system). "Qualified Alien" is defined at 10 TAC ยง6.2(45) as a person described at 8 U.S.C. ยง1641(b) โ that federal qualified-alien framework lives on this program's shared federal page and is not repeated here. ๐ด But read two equally important facts that guard against the "second error": (1) A mixed-status household can be served โ TDHCA states "Any household with a mixture of US citizens/US nationals/qualified aliens and unqualified aliens can be served as long as they meet eligibility requirements," counting the income of all adult members but counting only the qualified members when determining household size (10 TAC ยง6.309). So having one member without status does not mean the whole family is shut out. (2) CEAP is "not a law enforcement program" โ TDHCA states plainly "We are not a law enforcement program," so encountering an unauthorized immigrant is not reported to immigration/customs enforcement; a document that looks fake is simply returned with an explanation, not kept or destroyed. If every adult in your household is not a citizen, national, or qualified alien, CEAP itself will deny and refer you to other help such as CSBG (the Community Services Block Grant) โ that is honestly pointing you to a route, not turning you away. In every case, verify your own situation through your local community action agency or Help for Texans.
This page lists only the programs we've covered so far โ it does not mean these are the only benefits in this state.