To qualify for assistance under the Repatriated Nationals Program, an individual must be identified as a repatriated national by the U.S. Department of State.
45 CFR § 212.3 45 CFR § 212.4(c)
The CAO applies TANF requirements to determine if an individual qualifies for repatriation assistance except if:
1. The individual is a United States citizen or a dependent of a United States citizen.
2. An authorized Department of State official has sent a written statement to DHS (Department of Human Services) identifying the individual as having returned, or been brought, from a foreign country to the United States, or illness of the citizen or dependent(s), or because of war, threat of war, invasion, or similar crisis.
3. The individual has no immediately accessible resources to meet his or her needs.
The CAO may not require the repatriate to complete an Application for Benefits (PA 600) if doing so would delay or complicate authorizing and issuing benefits.
Exception: If the repatriate qualifies for SNAP benefits and/or TANF cash assistance, the CAO in the county of residence will require a PA 600. If the repatriate qualifies for continuing assistance after the 90 day period, the CAO will also require a PA 600.
The age, deprivation, and specified relative requirements do not apply.
There are no employment requirements for cash assistance benefits. At the end of the 90 days the CAO will determine if the repatriate is employable and will refer employable recipients to the Employment and Training Program.
Only consider immediately accessible income and resources. The CAO will count a resource only if it is under the repatriate’s control, the value is known, and the individual can draw upon it to meet immediate needs. Do not count resources in a foreign country if the foreign country does not allow them to be removed.
The repatriate, or individual acting on his/her behalf, must sign a repayment agreement as a condition of eligibility for assistance under the Repatriated Nationals Program. The agreement requires repayment of all cash assistance payments, including special needs allowances and payments DHS made for medical care. The DHHS Administration for Children and Families is responsible for making a repayment plan and collecting repayment.
Statewide CAO Procedures Repatriated Nationals
*Links to an internal website.
The repatriate must sign the repayment agreement in Pennsylvania, either at the port of entry or at the CAO of residence. The CAO will explain repayment and have the repatriate sign the Repayment Agreement. See Appendix A for a copy of the Repayment Agreement.
DHHS may waive repayment. The CAO may recommend a waiver if:
1. The cost cannot be readily allocated to the individual.
2. It would be uneconomical or impractical to recover the cost.
3. The Repatriated national does not have income and financial resources for more than ordinary needs and is not expected to have these resources in a reasonable time (usually one year).
4.Recovery would be against fairness and good conscience.
The CAO will make the waiver recommendation on the Expenditure Statement and Claim for Reimbursement (SSA-3955) and make its recommendation to the Headquarters Program Unit.
When recommending waiver of repayment, the CAO considers:
Whether the income and resources under the individual’s control are enough for repayment.
The repatriate’s usual occupation and employment history.
The amount of the repatriate’s indebtedness.
DHHS will contact the individual about repayment.
Reissued March 14, 2019 replacing October 10, 2012