Public charge has been part of U.S. immigration law for more than 100 years. Receiving public benefits does not automatically make an individual a public charge. Some noncitizens and their families are eligible for public benefits – including disaster relief, treatment of communicable diseases, immunizations, and children’s nutrition and health care programs – without being found to be a public charge. The fact sheet provides information about public charge determinations to help noncitizens make informed choices about whether to apply for certain public benefits.