Eligibility
Target Population
Farmworkers and their dependents are eligible regardless of immigration status. A farmworker is a person who reports employment, at any time during the last 24 months, in either crops or animals.
Crops (Cultivos)
- Farm (Granjas)
- Co-Ops (Cooperativas)
- Nurseries (Viveros)
- Orchards (Huertas)
- Greenhouses (Invernaderos)
- Tree Farms (Fincas de Arboles)
- Cotton Gins (Desmotadoras de Algodon)
Agricultural Work Includes (Trabajo Agricola Incluye):
- Aerial Dusting (Fumigacion Aerea)
- Spraying on Farms (Fumigar en Granja)
- Harvesting (Cosechar)
- Cultivation (Cultivar)
- Pruning (Poda)
- Irrigating on Farms (Riego en Granja)
- Packing on Farms (Embalaje en Granja)
- Planting (Sembrar)
- Fertilizing on Farms (Fertilizacion en Granja)
- Farm Management Services (Servicios de Gestion de la Granje)
- Operate Machinery (Operar Maquinaria)
- Cotton Ginning (Desmotado del Algodon)
Animals (Animales)
- Aquaculture (Acuicultura)
- Dairies (Lecherias)
- Feedlots (Corral de Engordas)
- Ranches (Ranchos)
Agricultural Work Includes (Trabajo Agricola Incluye):
- Herding (Pastoreo)
- Cleaning (Limpieza)
- Feeding (Alimentacion)
- Milking (Ordeno)
- Transport (Transporte)
- Boarding (Embarque)
- Spraying (Fumigar)
- Reproductive Services (Servicios de Reproduccion)
Agricultural Worker Definitions
Migratory Agricultural Worker
A Migratory Agricultural Worker is defined as an individual whose principle employment is in agriculture on a seasonal basis, who has been so employed within the last 24 months, and who establishes, for the purpose of such employment, a temporary place of abode; or
Seasonal Agricultural Worker
A Seasonal Agricultural Worker is defined as an individual whose principle employment is in agriculture on a seasonal basis and who is not a migratory agricultural worker.
Financial Eligibility
In order to qualify for services payable through the voucher program, the family must, (in addition to meeting the farmworker definition above, except for essential services for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis) have a total household income of 200% or below the federal poverty level guideline.
Self-declaration of agricultural migratory status and/or income level is sufficient if documentation is unavailable. Eligibility is updated annually.
Access to Health Care
Generally, migrant/seasonal farmworkers experience the same misfortunes as others who are low-income and have little or no access to employer-sponsored health insurance. Their plight is compounded by other barriers. Wage rates are typically lower and transportation less reliable. Few agricultural employers offer health insurance.
Language, culture, and work opportunities may keep them isolated. They may migrate with families who also have health care needs. Housing is often substandard. Health professionals may be unfamiliar with the problems of this group or resistant to treating them in their private practices. A significant barrier to care for the MSFW population is the inability to speak fluent English. Poor language skills act as an isolator, hampering both the provider and client. Health professionals who are willing to provide care are generally not bilingual and may have difficulty planning care or responding to health concerns and treatment goals.