Welfare Use by Non-Citizens Across States in the U.S.

This report examines welfare use (means-tested anti-poverty programs) for households headed by non-citizens by state using the 2021 to 2025 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC). About half of non-citizens are illegal immigrants, with lawful permanent residents making up most of the remaining. We find that non-citizen households use one or more means-tested programs at substantially higher rates than the U.S.-born in virtually every state. This is the case despite restrictions on non-citizens directly receiving some benefits, significant differences across states in non-citizens’ country of birth, and state welfare systems.