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ILLINOIS LATEST STATE TO EXTEND ADDITIONAL WELFARE BENEFITS TO IMMIGRANTS
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) denied federal welfare benefits to legal permanent residents. The rule was slightly relaxed last summer when food stamp benefits were extended to children, the disabled and elderly immigrants. Even after this change, there is much room for state intervention, and many states have acted to extend benefits to immigrants not covered under federal law. 
A new program of the Illinois Department of Human Services will extend benefits to 7,500 parents and 1,500 seniors who are legal permanent residents. In order to qualify, the parents must have children who are receiving federal benefits, and the seniors must be between the ages of 60 and 64 (those 65 and over receive federal benefits). Applicants must also have been legal permanent residents as of August 22, 1996. Many of those covered have filed applications for citizenship, which would make them eligible for federal benefits, but because of the current backlog at the INS, many of them will not be processed for years. 
The state has also started programs to provide cash assistance to legal permanent residents over 65 and one to provide support for immigrant victims of domestic violence.