Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) is a grant program from the North Carolina State Refugee Office that provides short-term transitional income to eligible refugees who do not qualify for other cash assistance programs such as Work First Cash Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, or Matching Grant.

The program is available for the first twelve months from a refugee's U.S. arrival date and is specifically designed for eligible individuals without dependent minor children. Eligible populations include refugees, Cuban and Haitian Entrants, certain Amerasians from Vietnam, human trafficking victims, Special Immigrant Visa holders from Iraq and Afghanistan, and Afghan Special Immigrant Parolees.

Refugee families with dependent minor children are directed instead to the Work First/TANF program. County Department of Social Services offices administer eligibility determinations per the NC Refugee Assistance Manual.

Details for Service Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) At-Risk Employment Benefits Provide outreach, support and services to individuals and families identified as being at risk of compromised health and safety to eliminate or reduce those risks. Assure that families at risk of economic challenges receive employment benefits to mitigate those risks.

Division of Social Services The North Carolina Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) Program was established to provide income to refugees who do not meet qualifications for Work First Cash Assistance (WFCA) , Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) or Matching Grant (MG). RCA is a short-term transitional program available for the first twelve months from their arrival date or the date the eligible is granted in the United States.

RCA is for eligible people who do not have dependent minor children. In determining eligibility for RCA, the county DSS must comply with the policies and procedures described in this chapter of the NC Refugee Assistance Manual.

Matching Grant (MG) is a separate federal program designed to help refugees attain economic self-sufficiency within eight months (240 days) after date of arrival in the United States, without accessing public cash assistance. Participating NC refugee resettlement agencies agree to match the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) grant with cash and in-kind contributions for refugees who qualify.

If individuals, couples and/or families with refugee status receive Matching Grant then the individual, couple and/or family member will not be eligible for any another public cash assistance benefit such as Refugee Cash, Work First Cash Assistance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) while receiving MG. This is referred to as dual enrollment of a public assistance benefit, which is not acceptable.

Refugee families with dependent minor children must apply for, and if eligible, participate in the state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, known in North Carolina as Work First. See Work First Manual XE "Work First Manual" to determine eligibility for WFCA . Refugees sixty-five (65) years of age or older, or refugees who are blind or disabled, would meet criteria for the SSI.

DSS is responsible for referring eligible individuals to the Social Security Administration for SSI benefits. NOTE : The term “refugee” will refer to all populations/groups listed below, who are ORR-eligible with a qualified status, exempt from the 5-year ban time frames and potentially eligible for RCA.

Cuban and Haitian Entrants Certain Amerasians (from Vietnam) Victims of Human Trafficking Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) XE "Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)" Holders from Iraq and Afghanistan. NOTE : SIV holders and potentially transition to Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) XE "Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)" status within the first ninety (90) days, after date of entry into the United States.

Afghan Special Immigrant Parole (SI/SQ) Afghan individuals with Special Immigrant (SI) XE " Afghan individuals with Special Immigrant (SI) " Conditional Permanent Residence (CPR) Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (AHP) Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHP) Non-Ukrainian Individuals XE "Non-Ukrainian Individuals" displaced from Ukraine XE "Victims of Human Trafficking" XE "Afghan Special Immigrant Parole (SI/SQ)" XE " Conditional Permanent Residence (CPR) " XE "Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (AHP)" XE "Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHP)" NOTE : References will be made to the NC Work First Manual XE "Work First Manual" whenever the WFCA and RCA programs have policies and procedures in common.

Exceptions or special rules for RCA will be noted. RCA recipients must be referred and participate in employability services within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of approval RCA disposition. If a refugee service provider is not available within the county AND they individual is receiving Refugee Cash Assistance, then employment services are provided by the local Department of Social Services.

https://www. ncdhhs. gov/divisions/social-services/refugee-services Competitive Bidding Details Income Eligibility Method TANF, SSI, OAA, AB, APTD, or AABD programs formulas as used to determine if the refugee household is eligible for those services first.

When determined not eligible, the refugee household must meet the provisions of the North Carolina Work First Family Assistance program in regard to: 1. treatment of income and resources, 2. determination of benefit amounts based on household size and income disregards.

Earned and Unearned income such as wages, salaries, unemployment benefits, retirement benefits, annuity income, child and spousal support received, severance pay, sick pay, vacation pay, etc. Any refugee assistance service may be provided to any refugee who is receiving cash assistance, including supplementary assistance, or whose gross family income is not more than 90 percent of the state's median income as issued by the administration for public services and adjusted for family size, except that vocational training may not be provided to a refugee who is not 16 years of age or older.

Countable income of all family members included in the case. Income of parent that are excluded from the case is counted. The exception of SSI (disabled participant) income is not counted.

1. 27. 5% of grows income is excluded.

2. A 100% job bonus which applies to new earned income that begins after application for Work First. Earnings statements, award letters, tax/business records, dividend statements, banks and other knowledgeable sources.

Poverty guidelines are updated periodically in the "Federal Registry" by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). Income Eligibility Change Income Eligibility Method Prior To Change Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, Title V, Section 501(a), Public Law 96-422, 94 Stat.

1799, 8 U.S.C 1522 note; Refugee Act of 1980, Section 412, Public Law 96-212, 94 Stat. 111, 8 U.S.C 1522; William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, Section 212-235, Public Law 110-457; Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386 Authorized Budget Fiscal Year 2026 SFY 2025-2026 Year To Date Expenditures Contracts/Allocations (6X) General Fund Appropriations