Bet Tzedek is part of a coalition of advocates working to respond to a new proposed “Public Charge” rule from the the Homeland Security Department. The rule, if finalized, would threaten low-income older adult immigrants’ ability to enter the U.S. or their path to citizenship if they seek, or are likely to receive, help from a broad range of government programs. These include such vital programs as Medicaid, the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help”), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Section 8 Housing Vouchers. The rule would make it harder for immigrant families to stay together and meet their basic needs. The rule is now published in the Federal Register with a 60-day comment period that ends on December 10, 2018. Bet Tzedek is asking supporters to comment on the rules’ particular impacts on older adults, caregivers and immigrant families.
Learn More and Take Action
Comment on the Rule
Use the information in our fact sheets to write your comments. For California, you can use these individual template comments, and then submit them here. Submit national comments at Our American Story or National Council on Aging.
Watch the Webinar
Bet Tzedek’s partners at Justice in Aging worked with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) to present a training on public charge to advocates for older adults. The webinar offered an overview of the existing public charge rule and key proposed changes, including the addition of certain government benefits older adults rely on, and details on how immigration officials make the public charge determination. Watch the webinar for tips on how you should be counseling your older adult clients and what you can do to fight back against this harmful proposal.
