PRWORA’s Restrictions on Noncitizen Eligibility for Federal Public Benefits: Legal Issues

Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) restricts the eligibility of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) for many federal benefit programs. It applies to federal health care, housing, welfare, unemployment, and retirement benefits, as well as many other types of federal benefits. This Congress report explains the PWRORA restrictions on alien eligibility and lists which federal benefit programs are subjected to said restrictions, including TANF.