Citizen vs Permanent Resident: Green Cards, Benefits, and Social Security

Green Card Benefits for Lawful Permanent Residents

When you come to the United States on an immigrant visa, you are granted green card benefits that allow you to both live and work in the U.S. Coming to the United States and being granted a green card comes with many advantages. In this article, you’ll learn about all the benefits granted to green cardholders.

The citizenship lawyers at Scott D. Pollock & Associates are here to offer guidance and support and answer any questions about green card benefits and the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship.

What Is a Green Card?

A green card is a physical document that shows your status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) in the United States. It’s an identification card that you can carry with you in your wallet. The green card itself is also called the I-551, Permanent Resident Card.

Who Can Get a Green Card?

A green card is given to any lawful permanent resident who has immigrated to the United States. LPRs are given a green card and are able to live and work permanently in the U.S.

There are many different green card eligibility categories that grant access to permanent residency in the United States. These include:

• Family-based green cards
• Employment-based green cards
• Special immigrant green cards
• Green cards granted through refugee or asylum status
• Green card granted through status as a victim of human trafficking or other crimes
• Green card granted through status as a victim of abuse
• Green card granted through registry
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has an “other categories” subsection for obtaining a green card, including the Cuban Adjustment Act and Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

Obtaining immigration visas and green cards takes time, effort, and attention to detail. Although there are many options available to obtain a green card, a person must meet strict eligibility requirements, fill out the correct immigration forms, and provide the appropriate pieces of evidence to present to USCIS. Most times, applicants or petitioners will also need to go through an interview process and have a medical exam.

U.S. Green Card Benefits

As a green card holder, there are many benefits available to you. Here’s what can you do with a green card:

• Apply for visas for spouses and unmarried children to live in the United States
• Apply for social security benefits
• Serve in certain branches of the U.S. military
• Receive federal benefits, such as food stamps or temporary assistance
• Travel outside of the United States, typically for less than one year

Benefits of Green Card vs. Citizenship

A green card is a permanent resident card for anyone who has been granted the right to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. While they are typically sponsored by a family member or an employer in the United States, green cards are not equivalent to United States citizenship.

Benefits of a U.S. Citizen

As a United States citizen, there are many benefits available to you. Common benefits for U.S. citizens include being able to:

• Vote in local, state, and federal elections
• Run for public office in an election
• Apply for visas for relatives to live in the United States
• Gain citizenship for children who were born abroad
• Travel outside of the country for an unlimited amount of time with a United States passport
• Apply for certain federal jobs
• Serve in the United States military

Shared U.S. Citizen and Green Card Holder Benefits

Despite green card holders facing limitations that U.S. citizens may not, there are several benefits that both have in common. Green card holders and U.S. citizens can:

• Own or rent property in the United States
• Apply for a driver’s license
• Attend public schools, colleges, and universities
• Open bank accounts
• Obtain social security numbers

We also often hear the question: “Can you work with a green card?” The answer is yes. In fact, it is encouraged, especially in order to qualify for public benefits as we will discuss below.

How to Obtain a Green Card

To apply for a green card, you must fill out and submit an immigrant petition and green card application (Form I-485). Typically, someone must file the initial petition for you. This person will likely be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Your next steps when applying for a green card will depend on your location. If you are in the United States, you must file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjustment of Status with USCIS.

If you are outside of the United States, visit the U.S. Department of State Consular Processing page. Either way, you will participate in U.S. adjustment of status.

The general application process to apply for a green card varies depending on your individual circumstances. As an overview, the steps are:

1. Someone files a petition on your behalf.
2. USCIS reviews and makes a decision on your immigrant petition.
3. If approved, you will attend an appointment to gather fingerprints, photos, and signatures.
4. You will attend an interview.
5. A final decision will be made on your application.

For additional information on applying for a green card, contact the immigration attorneys in Illinois at Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. or visit the USCIS website.

Citizen vs. Permanent Resident

Becoming a citizen of the United States can be an exciting opportunity. However, there are several ways non-citizens can come to the United States permanently, or for a temporary stay. A United States citizen and a permanent resident are similar, but there are different requirements to meet and steps to take to achieve either status.

Who Is a United States Citizen?

A citizen is a legally recognized subject or national of a country. United States citizens are eligible for benefits depending on their age, including but not limited to:

• Voting in U.S. elections
• Applying for a driver’s license
• Attending school and university as a citizen
• The right to live and work in the U.S.
• Potential for federal assistance

A person may become a United States citizen in many ways. The four common ways to obtain U.S. citizenship are through applying for U.S. naturalization, dual citizenship/nationality, citizenship by birth, or citizenship through acquisition.

Who Is a Lawful Permanent Resident?

A permanent lawful resident of the United States is a person who has been granted the right to live in the United States permanently and indefinitely. Permanent lawful residents are given a green card authorizing them to work and live in the United States, as well as the right to petition for other family members to join them in the U.S. under a temporary visa.

Permanent residents remain citizens of another country upon gaining their lawful permanent resident status. When traveling, it is important to carry your passport and green card with you. LPRs who have left the United States for more than a year may have difficulty re-entering and keeping that status.

Green Card Public Benefits

Can green card holders get welfare? Can green card holders get disability benefits? The answers lie with green card public benefit options.

Public benefits come at the local, state, and federal levels. Public benefits mean governmental support for eligible recipients. In this section, we will give a short overview of green card benefits. For more in-depth information about these public green card benefits, talk to your immigration attorney today to find out which ones you may be eligible for.

Factors That Determine Green Card Public Benefit Eligibility

Different green card public benefit programs are given to people of different eligibility status. For example, benefits for green card holders over age 65 will not be the same as they will be for green card holders under the age of 21.

Other factors that impact a green card holder’s access to public benefits include:

• When you obtained LPR status
• The way in which you were granted LPR status (i.e. employment-based visa, family-based visa, etc.)
• The amount of work you have—specifically if you had had 40 quarters of work*
• Your state and country of residence
• Your or your sponsor’s income
• Any special rules that may apply to your LPR status

If you fall under special categories, speak with your green card lawyer in Chicago to see what benefits you are able to receive, or other special green card benefits that may be applicable to you.

*Note: Working quarters refer to three-month periods of work with earnings. 40 quarters is equivalent to 10 years of work.

Green Card Social Security Benefits

Green card social security benefits include:

• Disability
• Retirement pay
• Survivor’s benefits

To be eligible, you must have worked in the United States for at least 10 years (40 quarters).

If you were issued your social security number on or after January 1, 2004:

• Your social security number needs to have been valid for your job.
• If you were in the U.S. on a temporary visa, you must have performed your work as a businessperson or with crewman status.

Supplemental Security Income Benefits for Green Card Holders Over 65

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides financial help to green card holders ages 65+ or children and adults with disabilities who have low-income status.

SSI Qualifications

In order to qualify for SSI green card benefits, you must have:

• Lived in the U.S. for at least five years
• Have worked for 40 quarters or more

Medicare

Medicare is another form of benefit for green card holders over age 65 or those who have certain disabilities. To qualify for medicare green card benefits without pay, you need to have worked 40 quarters.

If you have not worked 40 quarters, you are able to buy Medicare Part A. Either way, you need to have lived in the United States for at least five years. Other than Part A, Parts B, C, and D need to be paid for.

There are four different types of Medicare that you may be eligible to receive:

1. Part A: Medicare that covers hospitalization, surgeries, and major procedures.
2. Part B: Medicare that covers doctor visits, X-rays, and other outpatient services.
3. Part C: Medicare that has additional coverage in addition to benefits from Parts A and B.
4. Part D: Medicare that covers prescription drugs.

Medicaid

We often get asked the question: “Can green card holders get Medicaid?”

Medicaid programs are available at the state level and may be called something different than “Medicaid.” For example, Medicaid in Illinois is called ABE and is called Medi-Cal in California.

Medicaid is a government-run program that provides health coverage for qualifying low-income individuals.

There are two main types of Medicaid:

1. Emergency Medicaid
2. Full-scope Medicaid

Each state has different qualifications, but most LPRs can receive green card benefits for emergency Medicaid.

Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act—also known as Obamacare—is a type of health insurance that is an option available to LPRs.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a type of green card benefit that is available for children of families that cannot pay for private insurance, yet earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid.

CHIP Is for LPRs Who:

• Are younger than 21 or pregnant
• Live in a state that provides full-scope Medicaid
• Have had LPR status for at least five years

You can call your state government to see if you qualify for CHIP. There may also be other rules and regulations that depend on how you received your LPR status.

Public Housing

An LPR’s green card benefits include federally funded public housing under Section 8. This is a program that provides money to families, giving them the opportunity to rent housing that is typically managed by a governmental housing authority.

Although this is a federally funded program, you can check with your state government to see if it provides governmental housing for green cardholders.

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

SNAP is the answer to another question we often get: “Can a green card holder get food stamps?”

SNAP is a federally funded program that allows states to give debit cards to qualifying individuals, providing money to purchase groceries. If you do not qualify, contact your state to see if there is another type of food program you may be eligible for.

TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

TANF is for low-income families, providing monetary assistance from the federal government.

TANF is a program that also provides job training, educating individuals on how to be financially independent. Ask your state for any unemployment benefits for green card holders that are similar to the TANF program

Green Card Expiration Time

Green cards expire every ten years, which means that you must reapply for a new green card at your card’s expiration date. It’s important to note that your permanent residence status is still in effect, it is just the green card itself that expires.

Carrying and identifying yourself using an expired green card is illegal; you must renew your green card in order to stay within legal bounds with both USCIS and immigration law.

Conditional Green Cards

Unlike traditional green cards, a conditional green card has a valid lifetime of 2 years. A conditional green card, also known as a CR-1, is granted to those who have become permanent residents because of their marriage-based green card.

A conditional green card holder is still a permanent resident with the same green cardholder rights as any other typical green cardholder. However, they need to take an extra step in order to obtain a green card that is valid for 10 years as opposed to two.

In order to make the transition from a conditional green card to a traditional one, the green card holder must submit Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, to USCIS.

If your marriage has ended, that does not necessarily mean that you are ineligible to remove the conditions on your green card. Contact your immigration attorney to explore your options for the next steps if your marriage has ended.

Pros and Cons of Sponsoring an Immigrant

There are many pros to sponsoring an immigrant to have a green card and the green card benefits that come along with it. If you are applying for a family member, you can reunite with your loved ones. If you are petitioning for an employee, you are sharing in a mutually beneficial professional relationship.

One of the major cons of sponsoring an immigrant is that you may need to be financially responsible for them. USCIS requires Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, a contract the petitioner must sign to prove that they will be financially responsible for the immigrant they sponsor. However, this does not need to be an impediment to sponsorship. Speak with your immigration attorney about sponsoring an immigrant.

Disadvantages of Having a Green Card

One of the main disadvantages of a green card is that its benefits do come with some limitations. Of course, green card holders do not have the same advantages as U.S. citizens who have gone through the naturalization process. And there are additional limitations.

Grounds of Inadmissibility

You can lose your green card and LPR status if you commit a crime or other violation that would result in removal proceedings, also known as deportation.

If you commit an act, such as the following, you may be deported:

• Illegally voting by misrepresenting your LPR status. This can sometimes happen when people with LPR status apply for or renew a driver’s license. In the U.S., people can register to vote when renewing a driver’s license. A seemingly harmless mistake at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can lead to your removal from the U.S.
• Failure to file Form AR-11, Change of Address in a timely manner.
• Committing a crime, felony, or fraud. Each of these has varying degrees of severity, yet no matter the gravity of the action, each can lead to your green card being taken away.

Leaving the United States

Another disadvantage of having a green card is that you may not be able to leave the United States. If you do and try to return, under certain circumstances, you may fall under grounds of inadmissibility.

You may be considered for grounds of inadmissibility if:

• You leave the United States for six months or more.
• You commit a crime during your time outside of the United States.

Having a green card does not mean you get total freedom in the United States. Although there are many advantages to having a green card, green cards do also come with some limitations.

When you are ready and eligible to become a U.S. citizen, our immigration and naturalization lawyers can guide you through your journey to citizenship.

Contact Your Immigration and Naturalization Attorneys at Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. Today

At Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C., our citizenship lawyers provide individuals and families with the legal representation they need. Our legal team has over seven decades of combined experience to assist you or your loved one through the process of obtaining citizenship or LPR status in the United States.

If you have any questions regarding immigration and visa cards or for more information on obtaining U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, contact a member of our legal team at 312.444.1940 or fill out an online contact form today.

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