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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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• Age 65 or older • Blind • Disabled

After RCA approval, the individuals may continue to receive benefits until approved for SSI, but not beyond the 8-month eligibility period. The RCA case must be closed when the refugee is approved for SSI. The DSS Form 1326, Notification of Eligibility Determination for Refugee Resettlement Program, must be sent at least 10 days before action is taken to close the case.

1. Required Verification Verification requirements for the RCA are the same as the TANF Program for the following elements: a) Qualified Non-citizen status/SAVE verification

b) Income

There is no federal requirement that RCA recipients must have a social security number or show proof of application for a social security number at the time of application.

Individuals that receive RCA are not considered in the TANF caseload and are not entered on the CHIP system for case processing.

1. Financial Requirements that are Unique to RCA

A. Only income available on the date of application is considered for RCA eligibility.

B. Any assets that refugees may hold in their land of origin are not considered.

C. The income of a volunteer assisting a refugee or the resettlement office is not used in determining eligibility for the RCA program.

D. Shelter or in-kind resources provided to the refugee by the refugee resettlement office is excluded.

E. Cash payments made to the refugee under the Department of State Reception and Placement program are not counted as income or assets.

2. RCA Time Limits There is an four-month time limit on the period that refugees are eligible to receive RCA benefits. The actual number of months RCA benefits will be available depends on the date of application for benefits.

The start date for the four-month eligibility period depends on the status of each applicant. Once eligibility is determined, RCA recipients who continue to meet financial requirements are eligible for RCA for up to four months.