Effective March 28, 2022, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announced the expansion of the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) eligibility period from eight months to twelve months of assistance for participants whose date of eligibility for ORR benefits is on or after October 1, 2021.  On September 30, 2021, Congress through the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, authorized the ORR to provide resettlement assistance and other benefits available to refugees to specific Afghan populations, in response to their emergency evacuation and resettlement.

The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) has taken the actions described below and the rule has been subject to a review by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR).  This rule will become effective on 10/1/22.

Chapter 4000

5101:1-2-40.1 "Refugee Cash Assistance."

This rule describes administration of the refugee cash assistance program. Changes to the rule include: 

• New definitions have been added to paragraph (A)(7)(k) through (n).  These definitions are being added for Afghan populations who are eligible for benefits and services through the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022; and
• Paragraph (B)(2) has been updated to reflect eligibility for a refugee whose entry date is within twelve months of the application date; and
• Paragraph (C)(1) has been updated to reflect a refugee can receive RCA for twelve months from their date of entry.  The eligibility period for RCA begins with the refugee’s entry date and ends the last day of the twelfth month after the entry date.