Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Housing and Urban Development [DOCKET No. FR-6573-N-01] AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), and its exceptions. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any HUD program or office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David C. Woll, General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th St. SW, Room 10110, Washington, DC 20410, telephone number 202-708-2244. HUD welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone call, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/​consumers/​guides/​telecommunications-relay-service-trs . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background According to Section 401 of PRWORA, 8 U.S.C. 1611(a) , aliens who are not “qualified aliens” are not eligible for any “Federal public benefit” as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1611(c) . The prohibition set forth in § 1611(a) is subject to certain exceptions set forth in § 1611(b). Section 401(c) of PR…