Narrative: j.

Persons who are either United States citizens or qualified non–citizens are eligible for TANF benefits per the provisions of section 431 of the PRWORA, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1641) if they meet all other program eligibility criteria. Qualified non–citizens who entered the United States before 8/22/1996 are considered to be eligible for federally funded cash assistance if they are Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs); paroled for one year or more; victims of battery and/or cruelty; or conditional entrants prior to 4/1/80. Qualified non–citizens who entered on or after 8/22/1996 are considered to be ineligible for federally funded MFIP/DWP cash assistance for five years. The following non–citizens may be eligible for federal funding without considering the date of admission to the U.S. if they meet all other program requirements: refugees, asylees, veterans and persons on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, their spouses or unmarried dependent children, non–citizens whose eportation/removal is being withheld, Cuban or Haitian entrants and certain Amerasians. All lawfully residing non–citizens who are not eligible for federal funding may be eligible for state funding if they meet other program eligibility requirements for state funded cash assistance as follows: LPRs age 18 through 69 who are funded under state dollars and who have been in the country for four or more years must meet one of the following requirements to remain eligible: enrollment in literacy, ESL or citizenship classes; applied for admission to such classes and on a waiting list; applying for a waiver from the USCIS of the English language or civics requirements of the citizenship test; submitted an application for citizenship to USCIS and waiting for a testing date or swearing in ceremony; or have been denied citizenship due to failure to pass the test after two or more attempts or because of an inability to understand the rights and responsibilities of becoming a U.S. citizen as documented by the USCIS or the county agency.