730.1 General Policy

The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provides short-term cash and medical assistance to new arrivals designed to facilitate refugees' successful transition in the U.S. and help them attain self-sufficiency.

A refugee is an individual who is fleeing their country of origin because of persecution or threat of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion under Title IV of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will designate a person as a refugee. Refugee categories include, but are not limited to:

See Section 730.2 for the list of all qualifying immigration statuses and required verification.

The Refugee Assistance Program provides 100% federal reimbursement for cash assistance, medical assistance and social services provided to eligible refugees. Refugee Assistance is available for 8 months beginning with the individual's date of entry into the United States (US) as a refugee:

Refugees - eight-month clock begins the date the refugee is admitted to the US in refugee status
Principal Applicant and the Derivative Asylees - eight-month clock begins with the asylum grant date
- Principal applicant is a person who petitioned for asylee status directly and not through a relative.
- Derivative asylee is a person who was included for asylee status through a family member who is the principal applicant. i.e. spouse or child of principal applicant.
Cuban/Haitian Entrants - eight-month clock begins the date the individual first entered the U.S. as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant
Trafficking Victims - eight-month clock begins the date of the Trafficking Certification or Eligibility letter is issued by HHS/ACF

eCIS calculates eight months as 240 days from the appropriate clock start date determined by the above information. The date specified above will be entered in eCIS in the US entry Date field on the Alien/Refugee screen.

NOTE: Qualifying persons may only receive refugee benefits for the first date of initial qualifying status. Subsequent status changes or newly issued I-94 does not re-start any period of eligibility for RCA or RMA. These individuals must still be reviewed for eligibility for TANF, SNAP and Medicaid benefits even if time limits have ended for refugee benefits.

NOTE: A refugee who is a dependent of a repatriated national may not receive RCA or RMA during the 90 days for which Repatriated Nationals Assistance is available. See Chapter 750, Repatriated Nationals Assistance.

Determine eligibility for Medical Assistance (MA) under Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), TANF, and SSI related Non-Money payment (NMP) and Medically Needy Only (MNO) MA before determining eligibility for RMA.

The Refugee Assistance Program does not include reimbursement for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, a refugee may receive SNAP benefits if the individual meets all eligibility requirements. The CAO will apply the policy and procedures contained in the SNAP Handbook.

At the end of the RCA or RMA time period, the refugee may receive cash and medical assistance based on the same requirements and procedures applied to any other applicant/recipient.

For 30 days following the refugee's date of entry, a Voluntary Agency (VOLAG) will provide social services and financial and in-kind assistance to help the refugee adjust to life in the US and become self-supporting. The VOLAG may use a sponsoring Resettlement Agency (RA) to assist with resettlement. The sponsoring agency may be an individual, a church, a civic organization, or other local group or organization.

NOTE: The VOLAG/RA may provide Matching Grant Program services as an alternative to public cash assistance to certain selected employable refugees for up to 120 days following the refugee's date of entry. Individuals selected by the VOLAG/RA are referred to as "Match Grant" participants. The VOLAG/RA or designated employment service provider may provide employment and other social services for up to 24 months.

Matching Grant participants agree not to access public cash assistance, including TANF or RCA. Eligibility for Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Medical Assistance (MA), TANF and SSI related Non-Money payment (NMP) and Medically Needy Only (MNO) MA, as well as RMA and SNAP benefits should still be reviewed.

An individual may apply for public assistance while receiving help from the VOLAG/RA. They must provide the name of their resettlement agency as a condition of eligibility. The CAO will contact the appropriate VOLAG/RA to determine whether a refugee applicant is receiving Matching Grant Program services.

The consent of the refugee is not required for contact with the VOLAG/RA or sponsor. The CAO will consider the assistance provided when determining the refugee's eligibility for benefits.

NOTE: The CAO will consider only the income and resources actually made available to the refugee. The CAO will not deem income and resources from a VOLAG/RA or sponsor to a refugee.

If a significant number of newly arrived refugees in the community are applying for cash assistance during the 30 (or 120) day period for which the VOLAG/RA is responsible, the CAO will advise the Area Manager of the situation. The CAO will not deny benefits to eligible refugees.

Except as provided for in this Chapter, the CAO will determine a refugee's eligibility using the same criteria and procedures applied to any other client.