Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 33 resources
General information
Federal Court Order Stopping DSHS from Ending Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants Reversed by Ninth Circuit
(Separate Website)
Update: DSHS is no longer stopped by court order from ending or making changes to the Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants (FAP). The Washington State Legislature will decide as part of the supplemental budget whether to continue to fund FAP. It will also decide if benefits will be the same as in the federal Food Stamp program or set at a lower level.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Apple Health for Kids Program: How to Respond to DSHS Notices about Immigration and Citizenship Documents If you have children who receive state-funded free or low cost health insurance through the state's Apple Health for Kids program, you may receive a notice from the Department of Social and Health Services ("DSHS") asking you to send in documents about your child's citizenship or immigration status. This bulletin explains why you received this notice and what you should do.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
Applying for Public Assistance
7903EN - Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Russian / Pусский
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Sponsored Immigrants and Benefits
(Separate Website)
A sponsor is a person who has helped an immigrant become a lawful permanent resident (green card?holder) by signing an ?affidavit of support.?
By: National Immigration Law Center
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Russian / Pусский
Will Using Benefits Hurt My Chances of Getting a Green Card or Becoming a U.S. Citizen? 8118EN - Describes situations when it is appropriate to use different government benefit programs depending on your immigration status.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
A Guide for Immigrants, Limited English Persons and Their Advocates to Federally Subsidized Housing 8151EN - A detailed guide for immigrants and non-english speakers to federally subsidized housing programs.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
An Advocate's Guide to the New and Temporary SSI Extension Law for Humanitarian Immigrants
(Separate Website)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides income assistance to low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Since 1996, SSI benefits for refugees and certain other humanitarian immigrants have been available only during a seven-year period. A new law, "The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" (Public Law 110-328), extends SSI eligibility for these immigrants, allowing them to receive at least two more years of SSI.
By: Legal Services of Greater Miami
National Immigration Law Center Web Site
(Separate Website)
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a national support center whose mission is to protect and promote the rights and opportunities of low income immigrants and their family members. NILC staff specialize in immigration law, and the employment and public benefits rights of immigrants. The Center conducts policy analysis and impact litigation and provides publications, technical advice, and trainings to a broad constituency of legal aid agencies, community groups, and pro bono attorneys.
By: National Immigration Law Center
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Web Site
(Separate Website)
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) advances the legal rights and dignity of low-income immigrants in Washington State by pursuing and preserving their legal status through legal representation, education and public policy.
By: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Questions and Answers for Undocumented Immigrants Regarding FEMA Assistance
Public Charge: When is it safe for immigrants to use public benefits? 8120EN - This publication explains the U.S. government's published guidance on the "public charge" rules, which govern when receiving public benefits may affect your immigration status or your ability to travel outside of the U.S. We also explain when it is and is not safe to use public benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
WA Public Assistance for Immigrants who Legalized Under the 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act
This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you legalized under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. If you have a different immigration status please read one of our other brochures.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Public Assistance for Family Visa Beneficiaries 7922EN - This publication explains what public benefits you may be eligible for if you are a family visa beneficiary. You are a family visa beneficiary if you got lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (your "green card") because a family member filed a family visa petition for you.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Washington Public Assistance for Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence 7924EN - This publication will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are an immigrant and a victim of domestic violence. If you have a different immigration status, please read one of our other publications on this topic.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
Washington Public Assistance for "Lawfully Present" Non-Citizens This publication is for certain immigration applicants and non-citizens who do not yet have their green cards, but who are considered by the Department of Social and Health Services (?DSHS?) to be "lawfully present" in the U.S. Persons who are "lawfully present" are eligible for some state and federal benefits programs, provided that they meet other program requirements.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Somali / Soomaali
Washington Public Assistance for Public Interest Parolees
This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are a public interest parolee (paroled for a period of at least one year). If you have a different immigration status please read one of our other brochures in this series.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Public Assistance for Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants
(Includes Refugees, Asylees, Persons Granted Withholding of Deportation, Cuban Haitian Entrants and Persons Granted Conditional Entrance)
By: Northwest Justice Project
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I am Undocumented. Am I Eligible for Public Assistance? 7934EN - This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are undocumented. If you have a different immigration status please read one of our other brochures in this series.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
WA Public Assistance for Victims of Trafficking This brochure will tell you what benefits you may be eligible for if you are a victim of trafficking.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Do I Qualify for DSHS Services?
(Separate Website)
Find out what benefits you may quality for.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
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Spanish / Español
Questions and Answers on Immigrants Who Want to Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 7502EN - I am an immigrant. I get ABD. Am I eligible to get SSI before I have become a citizen?
By: Northwest Justice Project
Help With Medical Bills for Immigrants without Legal Immigration Status 8144EN - Describes what programs are available and who is eligible for medical bill help.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
WorkFirst for Those Who Don't Speak English
Information on how to make WorkFirst work best for you if you or someone in your family doesn't speak English.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
DSHS Help for People with Disabilities: Necessary Supplemental Accomodations
If you get DSHS benefits, such as TANF, SFA, Disability Lifeline, Medicaid, or food assistance, DSHS must accommodate your disabilities. This means that DSHS must try to make their services and benefits available to you to the same extent that they are available to people without a disability.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
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How to Fight a Denial of DSHS Public Assistance
This publication explains your rights if you apply for cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and their office denies you benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
How To Fight a Termination or Reduction of DSHS Public Assistance
7102EN - This publication explains your rights if the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) tells you that it will stop or cut back the cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance they have been giving you. The most important thing to know is that you must ask for a fair hearing soon, usually within 10 days of being mailed written notice, to keep getting your benefits while you appeal.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
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Russian / Pусский
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Spanish / Español
How To Fight an Overpayment of Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance or Food Stamps
7104EN - An overpayment happens when you receive benefits you are not eligible for according to Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) rules.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Petition for Superior Court Review
7917EN - If you disagree with the final fair hearing decision, you may appeal your case to a state Superior Court. The appeal is called a "Petition for Judicial Review of an Administrative Decision." Your appeal can be filed in either the Superior Court of the county where you live or in Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
How to Present an Equitable Estoppel Defense at a DSHS Hearing
7912EN - If you receive an overpayment notice from DSHS telling you that you owe them money or food stamps because they gave you benefits they should not have given you, and the overpayment was through no fault of yours, you should ask for a fair hearing because there is a legal defense against the overpayment. You must ask for the fair hearing within 90 days of the date of the overpayment notice. The notice will say the overpayment was unintentionally caused and will say you are required to repay it, but will not tell you that there is a legal defense against it. Read this publication to find out about an Equitable Estoppel defense.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
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Spanish / Español
Representing Yourself at a Fair Hearing
7910EN - If you do not agree with any decision, either verbal or written, made by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), you have the right to appeal that decision by asking for a fair hearing.
This publication tells you about 1) the deadline to request a fair hearing, 2) how to make the re-quest, 3) how to prepare for your hearing, and 4) what to expect at your hearing and afterward.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
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Russian / Pусский
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Spanish / Español
What Are My Rights? Dealing with DSHS
7900EN - This publication lists services available by DSHS and your rights when dealing with this state agency.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Russian / Pусский
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Welfare Fraud: What You Need to Know
7116EN - This publication answers common questions about welfare fraud and offers important information that you should know if you are being accused of welfare fraud.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
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