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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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5. RCA Eligibility Process and Forms The county staff must use appropriate forms in the eligibility process for Refugees applying for benefits. A copy of all applicant forms must be made available to the Refugee Resettlement Program at the State Office for processing RCA payments.

NOTE: If the refugee applied for SNAP benefits, scan the documents in SCOSA and notify State Office Refugee staff at:

refugeeresettlement@dss.sc.gov.

The following forms should be used by the county staff Economic Services (ES) Workers:

1. The DSS Form 3800, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Application; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP Application; Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) Application, or online application is used for refugees applying for RCA.

2. The DSS Form 1324, Refugee Employment Services Registration/Participation Status, is used for each person required to register for employment.

All refugees who do not meet an exemption from work registration must be referred to the Refugee Employment Service Provider. When referring Cuban and Haitian Entrants or Asylees for work registration, a copy of the Department of Homeland Security or USCIS document verifying the parole or Asylum status must be sent with the DSS Form 1324 to the Refugee Employment Service Provider, Lutheran Services, or World Relief.

The DSS Form 1324 must be signed by the contracted employment service provider prior to approving RCA benefits.

The refugee must report to the Refugee Employment Service Provider each month for job search activities while receiving RCA. The Refugee Employment Service Provider and the SC Refugee Resettlement Program will monitor the work activity requirement and notify the county if the refugee fails to participate as required.

3. The DSS Form 1325, Authorization of Refugee Cash Assistance Payment, is used for case approvals, reviews, re-budgets, closures and denials.

4. The DSS Form 1326 is used to notify refugees of their eligibility status. The refugee should be notified of eligibility as soon as possible but no later than 15 days after application.

The county Economic Services (ES) Workers should complete all sections of the DSS Form 1326, prior to notifying Refugee Resettlement staff of the case approval.

Instructions for use of DSS Form 1324, DSS Form 1325 and DSS Form 1326 are written on the back of the forms.