Everyone is welcome to apply and access WIC, health care, food and housing support, and more public benefits.
What Changed and When
On July 16, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a final public charge rule, effective September 18, 2026. The public charge inadmissibility test applies when a person applies for a green card or for a visa. Many immigrants are exempt from public charge under laws that cannot be changed by regulations.
Who is Affected
Most immigrants are not subject to the public charge test; the new rule applies only in certain immigration cases. The new public charge rule only applies to certain green card applications postmarked or electronically filed on or after September 18, 2026.
Please see the resource below from the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition to learn more about when the public charge test applies.
Public Charge Fact Sheet: Does this apply to me?
What this Means
- For families affected by the rule, WIC participation before September 18, 2026 will not be considered, but benefits received on or after that date may be considered as one factor in a public charge determination. The new rule also allows for the consideration of benefits used by a dependent family member, including a U.S. citizen child.
- WIC benefit receipt will be considered as part of the totality of the circumstances, including factors like work status and history, health, receipt of other means-tested benefits, support from a sponsor, and more.
- There is currently no clear information for families about how much their WIC participation will be weighed, or at what point ongoing WIC participation may negatively impact a public charge determination.
Families may need immigration legal advice for their individual situation. WIC staff cannot provide legal advice. See resources below.
Immigration Resources
- Immigration Legal Aid Resources
- Benefits Access for Immigrants Los Angeles (BAILA)
- Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration:
- Know Your Rights: A Guide for Immigrants – United We Dream
- Know Your Rights: Red Cards
- Printable Red Cards:
- Know Your Rights: Trans Legal Survival Guide
Immigration Legal Resources
Several free or low-cost immigration or legal status screening resources are available in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange County to help immigrants get the support and information they need.
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