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388-466-0005  <<  388-466-0120 >>   388-466-0140

Agency filings affecting this section

PDFWAC 388-466-0120

Refugee cash assistance (RCA).

(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 meet the immigration status requirements of WAC 388-466-0005;
(b) You have had the qualifying immigration status described in subsection (a) of this section for less than 12 months;
(c) You meet the income and resource requirements under chapters 388-450 and 388-470 WAC, except we do not count a one-time resettlement cash payment that a resettlement agency may use to cover direct assistance costs, such as rent, household goods, and other essential needs (WAC 388-466-0140);
(d) You meet the work and training requirements of WAC 388-466-0150; and
(e) If you are a refugee, you provide the name of the resettlement agency which resettled you.
(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
(b) Have been denied TANF due to your refusal to meet TANF eligibility requirements; or
(c) Are employable and have, without good cause, 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) What if I am 65 years of age or older, blind, or disabled?
You may be eligible for supplemental security income (SSI). If you also meet the eligibility requirements for RCA, you may be eligible to receive RCA benefits for up to 12 months or until SSI benefits are authorized, whichever occurs sooner.
(5) If I meet the requirements for the RCA program, what date will be used as the start date of the 12-month RCA benefit period?
The date that will be used as the start of the 12-month RCA benefit period is the date that you qualify for federal refugee resettlement services based on your immigration status.
(a) The start date of the 12-month RCA benefit period will be the date you entered the United States if you are a(n):
(i) Refugee;
(ii) Amerasian;
(iii) Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder from Iraq or Afghanistan;
(iv) Afghan Special Immigrant Parolee (SI/SQ); or
(v) Afghan individual with Special Immigrant (SI) Conditional Permanent Residence (CPR).
(b) If you are a Cuban-Haitian entrant, the start date of the 12-month RCA benefit period is the date you entered Cuban-Haitian entrant status.
(c) If you are an asylee, the state date of the 12-month RCA benefit period will be the date that your asylum status is granted. For example: You entered the United States on December 1, 2021, as a tourist, then applied for asylum on April 1, 2022, interviewed with the asylum office on July 1, 2022, and were granted asylum on September 1, 2022. September 1, 2022, will be used as the start date of your 12-month RCA benefit period.
(d) If you are certified as a victim of human trafficking, the start date of the 12-month RCA benefit period will be the date on the certification, eligibility, or interim assistance letter from the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
(e) If you are a Ukrainian humanitarian parolee that entered the United States between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023, the start date of the 12-month RCA benefit period is May 21, 2022, or the date you were granted parole, whichever is later. If you entered the United States between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, your date of eligibility is April 24, 2024, or the date you were granted parole, whichever is later.
(f) If you are an Afghan humanitarian parolee that entered the United States between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2023, the start date of the 12-month RCA benefit period is October 1, 2021, (if you entered between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2021) or the date you "entered the community," whichever is later.
(6) 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 (HHS), and you meet eligibility requirements in subsection (2) of this section. You do not have to provide any other documentation of your immigration status.
(b) A child victim under the age of 18, in which case you do not need to be certified. HHS issues a special eligibility or interim assistance 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, T-5, or T-6 Visa (Derivative T-Visas), and you meet the eligibility requirements in subsections (2)(c) and (d) of this section.
(7) When can I start receiving RCA?
The date DSHS has sufficient information to make an eligibility decision is the date you can start receiving RCA (WAC 388-406-0055).
(8) How long can I receive RCA benefits?
(a) You can receive up to 12 months of RCA benefits starting from the month of the date you become eligible for services through the federal office of refugee resettlement (ORR). For example, if the date you qualify for ORR services is May 28, 2022, May 2022 is the first month and April 2023 is the last month you may be eligible to receive RCA.
(b) The date that starts the 12-month eligibility period for RCA is the date you are eligible for ORR services, not the date of application for RCA. The actual number of months you receive RCA benefits depends on the date you apply and are approved for RCA. You will only be able to receive RCA for the number of months between RCA approval and the last day of the 12th month from your date of eligibility for ORR services. For example, if the date you are eligible for ORR services is May 1, 2022, and you applied and were approved for RCA on November 1, 2022, you will only be eligible for up to six months of RCA benefits, from November 2022 until April 2023.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 the date they qualify for federal refugee settlement services through the federal office of refugee resettlement.
(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) 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.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.04.770, 74.04.805, 74.04.820, 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.08A.120, 74.09.035, 74.09.530, 74.62.030, P.L. 118-42, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, Division G, Title II, Section 209(f); 8 U.S.C. §§ 1612, 1613 (b)(3) and 1641 (b)(8); H.R. 815, Division B pg. 11 - Ukrainian; and Final Rule for Classification for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons. WSR 25-08-068, s 388-466-0120, filed 4/1/25, effective 5/2/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, and 45 C.F.R. § 400.211 and ORR P.L. 22-12. WSR 23-02-032, § 388-466-0120, filed 12/28/22, effective 1/28/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.250 and 45 C.F.R. § 400.300, 8 U.S.C. § 1522 (e)(1). WSR 20-24-073, § 388-466-0120, filed 11/24/20, effective 12/25/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.250 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 15. WSR 13-03-137, § 388-466-0120, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13; WSR 12-19-037, § 388-466-0120, filed 9/12/12, effective 10/13/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.320, Pub. L. No. 110-181, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Pub. L. No. 111-08, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, Division F, Title VI, Section 602; Office of Refugee Resettlement State Letter 09-17 from April 9, 2009; and federal guidance issued on May 15, 2009, by the Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture. WSR 09-21-046, § 388-466-0120, filed 10/14/09, effective 11/4/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.320, 74.08.090, and Public Law 110-161 Section 525; Public Law 110-181 Section 1244; FNS Admin Notice 08-17; State Letter 04-12 from the Office of Refugee Resettlement. WSR 08-14-116, § 388-466-0120, filed 6/30/08, effective 8/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.320. WSR 02-04-057, § 388-466-0120, filed 1/30/02, effective 2/1/02.]