Should all refugees have cases opened as RCA (Refugee Cash Assistance)?
No. Federal regulations (CFR Part 400) require that all refugees must first have an eligibility determination for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). If a refugee is determined eligible for TANF, they should not be referred to as RCA. If a refugee is determined ineligible for TANF, a further eligibility determination may be made for RCA. A refugee may only be eligible for RCA during an eight-month period that begins with the applicant’s first month of arrival in the United States.
