Some info below from the USDA re SNAP screening.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applica....htm#immigrant
Excerpts:
For households in the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. To get SNAP benefits, households must meet certain tests, including resource and income tests:
The 2002 Farm Bill restores SNAP eligibility to most legal immigrants that:
Have lived in the country for 5 years; or
Are receiving disability-related assistance or benefits, regardless of entry date; or
Starting 10-1-03, are children regardless of entry date.
Certain non-citizens such as those admitted for humanitarian reasons and those admitted for permanent residence are also eligible for the program. Eligible household members can get SNAP benefits even if there are other members of the household that are not eligible.
(See Policy on Immigrants for information on qualified alien categories and eligibility)
(See also SNAP Guidance on Non-Citizen Eligibility)
Non-citizens that are in the U.S. temporarily, such as students, are not eligible.
A number of States have their own programs to provide benefits to immigrants who do not meet the regular SNAP eligibility requirements. For a table of those programs, see State Programs.
Last modified: 04/11/2012