Public Charge Final Rule: Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about whom the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) public charge rule will impact, what benefits are implicated by the rule, and how the rule might be administered.

The rule makes significant changes to the standards DHS will use to determine whether an immigrant is likely to become a “public charge”—a person dependent on the government for support—which will have consequences for certain immigrants’ legal status.

This FAQ is updated from its original release in October, 2019.