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 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. 

• Refugees
• Asylees
• Cuban and Haitian Entrants
• Certain Amerasians (from Vietnam)
• Victims of Human Trafficking
• Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Holders from Iraq and Afghanistan. 
• NOTE: SIV holders and potentially transition to 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) Conditional Permanent Residence (CPR)
• Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (AHP)
• Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHP)
• Non-Ukrainian Individuals displaced from Ukraine

NOTE:  References will be made to the NC 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.