(1)
Who can apply for refugee cash assistance (RCA)?
Anyone can apply to the department of social and health
services (DSHS) for refugee cash assistance and have their eligibility
determined within 30 days.
(2)
How do I know if I qualify for
RCA?
You may be eligible for RCA if you meet all of the following
conditions:
(a) You have resided in
the United States for less than 12 months;
(b) You meet the immigration status
requirements of WAC
388-466-0005;
(c) You meet the income and resource
requirements under chapters
388-450 and
388-470 WAC;
(d) You meet the work and training
requirements of WAC
388-466-0150; and
(e) You provide the name of the voluntary
agency (VOLAG) which helped bring you to this country.
(3)
What are the other reasons for not
being eligible for RCA?
You may not be able to get RCA if you:
(a) Are eligible for temporary assistance for
needy families (TANF) or supplemental security income (SSI); or
(b) Have been denied TANF due to your refusal
to meet TANF eligibility requirements; or
(c) Are employable and have voluntarily quit
or refused to accept a bona fide offer of employment within 30 consecutive days
immediately prior to your application for RCA; or
(d) Are a full-time student in a college or
university.
(4)
If
I am an asylee, what date will be used as an entry date?
If you are an asylee, your entry date will be the date that
your asylum status is granted. For example: You entered the United States on
December 1, 1999, as a tourist, then applied for asylum on April 1, 2000,
interviewed with the asylum office on July 1, 2000, and were granted asylum on
September 1, 2000. Your entry date is September 1, 2000. On September 1, 2000,
you may be eligible for refugee cash assistance.
(5)
If I am a victim of human
trafficking, what kind of documentation do I need to provide to be eligible for
RCA?
You are eligible for RCA to the same extent as a refugee if
you are:
(a) An adult victim, 18 years
of age or older, you provide the original certification letter from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and you meet eligibility
requirements in subsections (2)(c) and (d) of this section. You do not have to
provide any other documentation of your immigration status. Your entry date
will be the date on your certification letter;
(b) A child victim under the age of 18, in
which case you do not need to be certified. DHHS issues a special letter for
children. Children also have to meet income eligibility requirement;
(c) A family member of a certified victim of
human trafficking, you have a T-2, T-3, T-4, or T-5 Visa (Derivative T-Visas),
and you meet the eligibility requirements in subsections (2)(c) and (d) of this
section.
(6)
Does
getting a onetime cash grant from a voluntary agency (VOLAG) affect my
eligibility for RCA?
No. In determining your eligibility for RCA DSHS does not
count a onetime resettlement cash grant provided to you by your
VOLAG.
(7)
What is the
effective date of my eligibility for RCA?
The date DSHS has sufficient information to make an
eligibility decision is the date your RCA begins.
(8)
When does my RCA end?
(a) Your RCA ends on the last day of the 12th
month starting with the month of your arrival to the United States. Count the
12 months from the first day of the month of your entry into the United States.
For example, if you entered the United States on May 28, 2022, May is your
first month and April 2023 is your last month of RCA.
(b) If you get a job, your income will affect
your RCA based on the TANF rules (chapter
388-450 WAC). If you earn more than
is allowed by WAC
388-478-0035, you are no longer
eligible for RCA.
(c) You may
receive RCA benefits for more months if the federal office of refugee
resettlement extends the eligibility period.
(9)
Are there other reasons why RCA may
end?
Your RCA also ends if:
(a) You move out of Washington
state;
(b) Your unearned income or
resources go over the maximum limit (WAC
388-466-0140) ; or
(c) You, without good cause, refuse to meet
refugee employment and training requirements (WAC
388-466-0150).
(10)
Will my spouse be
eligible for RCA, if they arrive in the U.S. after me?
When your spouse arrives in the United States, DSHS
determines their eligibility for RCA and other income assistance
programs.
(a) Your spouse may be
eligible for up to 12 months of RCA based on their date of arrival into the
United States.
(b) If you live
together, you and your spouse are part of the same assistance unit and your
spouse's eligibility for RCA is determined based on you and your spouse's
combined income and resources (WAC
388-466-0140).
(11)
Can I get additional
money in an emergency?
If you have an emergency and need a cash payment to get or
keep your housing or utilities, you may apply for the DSHS program called
additional requirements for emergent needs (AREN). To receive AREN, you must
meet the requirements in WAC
388-436-0002.
(12)
What can I do if I disagree with a
decision or action that has been taken by DSHS on my case?
If you disagree with a decision or action taken on your case
by the department, you have the right to request a review of your case or an
administrative hearing (WAC
388-02-0090). Your request must
be made within 90 days of the date of the decision or action.