The RCA program was created to help refugees without children temporarily meet their needs without regard to their age or employment status.  Some factors that must be considered in determining eligibility are time limits, refugee status, sponsor or responsible Voluntary Resettlement Agency (VOLAG), income, and property.

Buying or owning a home may not make the individual(s) ineligible.  A family might also be eligible if they own a car or several cars.

Because of the many rules of the RCA program, an application must be completed and reviewed by an eligibility technician to determine eligibility.

Applicants for RCA must go to the Department of Public Social Services office nearest to their home (DPSS Office Locations) and ask the receptionist for an application for RCA.  An eligibility technician will conduct an interview and explain the requirements of the program in more detail.  This face-to-face meeting is required before RCA is approved.

The application process is lengthy and may require several hours over several days.  After the first interview an appointment is made to bring back the information the eligibility technician needs to decide eligibility.

Applicants for RCA must provide proof of the following:

If the family has an emergency such as a notice of eviction, utility shut-off, medical emergency, lack of food, or another urgent need, they should tell the eligibility technician and be prepared to show paperwork that proves the urgent situation.  If there is no proof, the name and phone number of an authority who knows about the emergency is acceptable.

The goal of the RCA program is to provide temporary assistance while the family moves toward self-sufficiency.   The program does not stop, however, just because a family member starts working.

Usually the amount of cash assistance goes down as the family’s income increases.  Certain deductions are given to earned income that result in less than half of the gross amount being taken from the maximum cash aid payment. 

Some income is not used at all.  In other cases, such as Unemployment benefits, the total amount is subtracted from the maximum cash aid payment.  Student grants and loans are usually exempt but some Veteran’s school grants and loans are used minus the cost of books and tuition.

RCA can also assist with child care costs while the parent(s) or caretaker(s) work or look for work.

The parent or caretaker relative is required to complete a Quarterly Income Report (QR7) every three months.  This report has questions about the family’s income, property and changes that may have occurred in the household.  The eligibility technician will explain the reporting requirements in more detail during the application process.  The report helps the county determine the family’s continued eligibility to cash assistance.

There are many other programs and services available for which an RCA family may qualify.

Food Stamps – In most cases, families eligible for RCA are also eligible for Food Stamps to help them purchase nutritional food for the family.  If the family wants to apply for Food Stamps, it is done as a joint application with RCA.

Medical Coverage – Most family members receiving RCA are also automatically eligible for Medi-Cal which will pay for most medical costs.

Welfare-to-Work – The welfare-to-work program, called GAIN, helps adult family members acquire the skills needed to either get back into the work force or get a better paying job.  The eligibility technician determines if a family member must participate in the GAIN program.

Family Planning – Any member of the family can get information about methods for planning family size, deciding when to have children, and preventing unwanted pregnancies.  The county will provide information to the family when requested.

Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) – Regular preventative medical check-ups are available to protect the health of children in the home under the age of twenty-one.

Social Services – Counselors are available if a family member needs help with a personal problem, such as drug or alcohol abuse, domestic violence, mental illness, or legal problems.  The family may request a 24 hour telephone number for services related to the above issues.