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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 03/2022

PROCESSING RCA APPLICATIONS

0030.03.01

ALL RCA APPLICATIONS ● The date of RCA application is the date the signed CAF Page Number 1 is date-stamped or signed/dated as received by either a county worker or a RCA eligibility worker in a Public-Private-Partnership agency (PPP). This date is the date of application for cash and SNAP. If the application is received on weekends, holidays, or after hours, the date of application will be the next business day.

● Applicants do not need to provide a social security number to be eligible for RCA. Do not delay or deny RCA because the applicant does not have or has not received a social security number.

PPP ADMINISTERED RCA: Anoka, Benton, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, Olmsted, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, and Washington Counties

APPLICATIONS FOR PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVALS

The Department of Human Services - Resettlement Programs Office (DHS-RPO) contracts with local resettlement agencies to administer the RCA program for the PPP counties.

New primary refugee arrivals into the state who reside in a PPP administered county must file their RCA applications with the local resettlement agency that processed their resettlement.

The PPP RCA eligibility worker at the local resettlement agency signs and dates the CAF Page Number 1 on behalf of the county agency.

It is the responsibility of the PPP RCA eligibility workers housed at local resettlement agencies to make all RCA eligibility determinations.

County workers in the PPP administered counties should not approve RCA eligibility (opening, closing or changing benefit levels).

Some primary refugee arrivals may not understand that they must file an application with the local resettlement agency that resettled them. If an RCA applicant submits application with the county, ask the applicant if they: ● Are a PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL: This means they arrived to Minnesota as their initial resettlement state through a local resettlement agency.

PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL includes people with the following statuses: - Refugees. See REFUGEES in 0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution). - Amerasians. See AMERASIANS in 0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution). - Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrants. See IRAQI OR AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS in 0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution).

If the applicant is a PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL, date-stamp the application and send the applicant to their local resettlement agency for RCA eligibility determination. - For a list of local resettlement agencies, see 0030.01 (Local Resettlement Agencies). - If the applicant is unsure which local resettlement agency they are connected to, follow the procedures listed below under OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS.

● Are a SECONDARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL: This means they arrived to another state as their initial resettlement state and then moved to Minnesota. If they are secondary refugee arrivals, follow the procedures listed below under OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS.

● Are an ASYLEE, CUBAN / HAITIAN ENTRANT, or VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING: If they have one of these RCA eligible statuses, follow the procedures listed below under OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS.

When an applicant files a CAF with a local resettlement agency and the application includes a request for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the RCA eligibility worker must: ● Enter the CAF Page number 1 on the same day it is received at the local resettlement agency.