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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 15

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 85 Chapter 15 Noncitizens, Refugees, and Citizenship

15.9 VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHO ARE NON-U.S. CITIZENS ELIGIBILITY FOR REFUGEE CASH AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE 15.9.1 INTRODUCTION The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) makes victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons eligible for federally funded or administered benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. They are eligible for federally funded or administered benefits and services, such as the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program and the Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) program that provides cash and medical assistance, WV WORKS, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) & Medicaid. To be eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, a trafficking victim must have Lawfully Permanent Resident Status; however, they are not subject to a 5-year waiting period after gaining the status, provided they meet other program eligibility criteria. Victims of Trafficking who have an eligibility date before May 5th, 2025, are allotted a 12-month period of eligibility. VOTs who have an eligibility date on or after May 5th, 2025, are allotted a 4-month period of eligibility. Victims of Trafficking are considered to be in an eligible status as of the date they are certified as VOTs. 15.9.2 ELIGIBILITY SCREENING Immigrants who have been granted Trafficking Victims Protection will have documents termed “Derivative T-Visas” in their possession. Victims of Trafficking who provide a T-2, T-3, T-4, or T- 5 visa (“Derivative T-Visas”), or have that status stamped on their I-94 Arrival Record or passport, are eligible for federally funded or administered benefits and services (RMA, RCA, WV WORKS, Medicaid, SNAP benefits) provided they meet program eligibility criteria. See Section 15.8.

15.9.2.A T-Visa Noncitizen Under 21 Years of Age