benefits

The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act has been signed into law. In addition to sending critical aid to Ukraine, this legislation also provides humanitarian assistance, including renewed funding for Ukrainian refugees in the United States. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has been authorized to resume providing resettlement assistance to Ukrainians paroled between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024. Learn more about these resettlement benefits in our article here. Read more

Our Ukraine Immigration Task Force has partnered with volunteers from Nova Ukraine to publish a comprehensive guide on "Applying for Low Cost Health Insurance in the United States." This guide provides an overview of the health insurance options for noncitizens and shows step-by-step instructions for applying for state and marketplace plans. It also explains eligibility categories based on income and family status, highlights ways to save money, and summarizes the differences between types of health and dental coverage. Read more

Many Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. since Feb. 2022 qualify for both TPS and humanitarian parole/re-parole. Although individuals can hold both of these statuses at the same time, there are some key differences. Learn more about the the eligibility criteria, application procedures, periods of protection, access to benefits, advantages and disadvantages of TPS vs. humanitarian parole for Ukrainians in our article here. Read more

With no renewed funding from Congress, resettlement staff across the country have been forced to turn Ukrainians away. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants published a compelling op-ed today that explains how newly arriving Ukrainians seeking refuge in the United States find themselves at risk of homelessness, hunger, trafficking, and serious health risks due to being cut off from critical assistance and services. Learn more about this issue and why it threatens not only the safety of vulnerable Ukrainians but the future of the Uniting for Ukraine program. Read more

The Ukraine Immigration Task Force was quoted in today's Policy & Advocacy Report from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). The policy brief highlights some of the financial and safety challenges for newly arriving Ukrainians paroled after September 30, 2023 who are not eligible for federal mainstream benefits, Medicaid coverage, or ORR funded resettlement assistance. The report underscores the importance of these benefits to both Ukrainians fleeing war and the continued success of sponsor-driven humanitarian parole programs. Read more

Here are 10 steps to complete when a Uniting for Ukraine beneficiary first arrives in the United States. Read more

Many Ukrainians ask about the consequences on accepting public benefits if they later wish to apply for a green card (lawful permanent residence). Ukrainian humanitarian parolees MAY accept those federal benefits for which they have been approved by law through an act of Congress while they are present on valid humanitarian parole. Read more

Ukrainian humanitarian parolees are eligible to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) without receiving employment authorization. This is called a non-working SSN. However, it is only issued to individuals who are able to demonstrate that they require a non-working SSN in order to obtain health or social services benefits. Read more