Afghan Families in Philadelphia Face Loss of Food and Health Benefits
By Tahera Rahmani, Chris Shaddock
Published Sep 30, 2026
For some Afghan families in Philadelphia, losing Medicaid means more than losing health coverage. It can disrupt career opportunities, add to family pressures and deepen uncertainty as they navigate immigration and rebuild their lives.
Sara, an Afghan mother of four living in Philadelphia, is waiting for her permanent residency while caring for her children and living apart from her husband, who remains in Afghanistan.
She says she recently lost both SNAP food assistance and Medicaid.
“The change is financially and emotionally very difficult,” she said. “Our food stamps and Medicaid have been stopped because we still have not received our green card.”
Sara’s experience is part of a broader change affecting some Afghan families in Philadelphia. Federal changes to SNAP eligibility have already affected certain noncitizens, while new Medicaid restrictions are taking effect Oct. 1.
Although Afghan families may be experiencing the changes as a single crisis, public benefits like SNAP and Medicaid are determined by different eligibility rules.
According to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), as of Nov. 1, 2025, certain noncitizen groups—including refugees, asylees and Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants—are no longer eligible for SNAP unless they have another qualifying status, such as LPR status.
People who are currently on SNAP will stay on it until their renewal date, and they will then have their eligibility reassessed.
