ACT 284 (Refugee Cash Assistance Update)
Action Change Transmittal Letter No. 284
February 12, 2021
TO: Food Assistance Certification Handbook Holders
FROM: Kimberly Henderson, Director
SUBJECT: Refugee Cash Assistance Update

Background:

On January 20, 2021, the Administration of Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), released Policy Letter (PL) 21-01 providing states the waiver option to extend the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) eligibility period. Ohio has applied for and been approved for this waiver.

New Procedure:

RCA provides time-limited cash assistance to refugees who are not eligible for Ohio Works First (OWF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if eligibility requirements are met. Ohio Administrative Code rule 5101:1-2-40.1 (C) states that the eligibility period for RCA begins with the refugee's entry date and ends the last day of the eighth month after the entry date. When the first eight months since the entry date have passed, the refugee is no longer eligible for RCA.

As a result of waiver approval from ORR, effective immediately through April 30, 2021 Ohio can extend the RCA eligibility period for individuals who became eligible for RCA between April 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020. 

  • Individuals who became eligible for RCA between April 1, 2019 - May 30, 2020 and have exhausted their 8 months of RCA eligibility must reapply and meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in rule 5101:1-2-40.1 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). Their RCA benefits will be terminated as of April 30, 2021. 
  • Current RCA recipients who became eligible between June 1, 2020-August 31, 2020 or previously received an extension of benefits and were scheduled to expire in January 2021 will have their eligibility period extended to April 30, 2021. They must continue to meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in rule 5101:1-2-40.1 of the OAC. RCA recipients who became eligible for RCA on or after September 1, 2020will remain eligible for only eight months. Additional months cannot extend beyond April 30, 2021.

Implementation:

Since this a very small population of individuals, a list will be sent to county agencies to run and extend the eligibility period with an override as well as document in journal notes.

If you have questions regarding any of the information, please reach out to Program Policy Services by sending an email to TANF-FSTA@jfs.ohio.gov.