1. Proposed Rule Radically Changes Who May be Considered a “Public Charge”

2. At a Glance: Current vs. Proposed Definition of Public Charge
Benefits Considered
Cash assistance,
Medicaid (LTC only)
Cash assistance, Medicaid (most), SNAP, housing assistance, Medicare Part D subsidies
Benefit Use Criteria
Primarily dependent
Modest use

3. Each year, nearly 3 in 10 U.S.-born citizens participate in benefit programs identified in proposed public charge definition
Current
Proposed
~5% of U.S.-born citizens used benefits considered1
29% of U.S.-born citizens used benefits considered1
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of Census Bureau data from the Current Population Survey and Supplemental Poverty Measure public use files, correcting for underreporting using the Department of Health and Human Services and Urban Institute Transfer Income Model, The analysis does not include Medicaid underreporting or account for use of low-income subsidies in the Medicare Part D program, which would capture additional U.S.-born citizens under the proposed rule

4. Most U.S.-born citizens will use at least one of the main benefits included in the proposed rule during their lifetime
1998 – 2014 Participation
40 to 50% of U.S.-born citizens used at least one of the benefit programs1
55 percent of children born from 1998 – in non-immigrant households used benefits considered under the proposed rule2
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of Urban Institute’s evaluation of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics data, correcting for underreporting using the Department of Health and Human Services and Urban Institute Transfer Income Model, 2015
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics data, from the University of Michigan’s Institute of Social Research

5. 16 percent of U.S. workers used benefits considered under the proposed rule in just one year1
Current Policy
Proposed Rule
1% of U.S. workers used benefits considered
16% of U.S. workers used benefits considered
Percentage of workers that used benefits considered, by industry…
All Workers
16%
Manufacturing
13% 1% 0%
Leisure & Hospitality
27%
Wholesale & Retail Trade
19% 1% 1%
Educational & Health Services
15%
Professional & Business
14% 1% 1%
Proposed Rule
Current Policy
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of Census Bureau data from the Current Population Survey and Supplemental Poverty Measure public use files, correcting for underreporting using the Department of Health and Human Services and Urban Institute Transfer Income Model, 2015

6. Percentage of population with income below $20 per person per day1
More than 80 percent of the world’s population would struggle to pass the proposed rule’s income test
Percentage of population with income below $20 per person per day1
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of World Bank PovcalNet tool, using 2013 reference year and $20 / day poverty line

7. Please contact Shelby Gonzales, Director of Enrollment and Outreach
Questions or Comments?
Please contact Shelby Gonzales, Director of Enrollment and Outreach
Phone: