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BEM 215 1 of 4 RCA GROUP COMPOSITION BPB 2013-012 7-1-2013

BRIDGES ELIGIBILITY MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

DEPARTMENT PHILOSOPHY Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) is a federal program that helps refugees become self-sufficient after their arrival in the U.S. RCA is a cash program for refugees who are not eligible for FIP. DEPARTMENT POLICY RCA Group composition is the determination of which individuals living together are included in the eligibility determination group (EDG) and certified group (CG). Spouses are responsible for each other. Needy spouses living together are expected to share income, assets, and expenses. To be considered for RCA all of the following must apply:  An individual must be a refugee as defined in the REFUGEES section in BEM 630 or 225A.  The months for which eligibility is being determined must be within the RCA eligibility period as defined in BEM 630 and BEM 225A.  When there is potential FIP eligibility, the group must take all actions available to obtain FIP. Failure to do so results in group RCA ineligibility. DEFINITIONS

Adult An individual is considered an adult for RCA when the individual is 18 years of age or older or has been legally emancipated. Exception: An individual who meets the definition of a dependent child is not considered an adult for RCA eligibility purposes; see BEM 210. Certified Group The RCA certified group means those individuals in the RCA EDG who meet all non-financial eligibility factors. Countable income and assets of CG members are always considered in determining eligi-