Refugee Assistance Admin. Letters

DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC SERVICES 1-2008, Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance for Iraqi and Afghani Special Immigrants (March 17, 2008)

TO:	County Directors of Social Services
ATTENTION:	Work First and Medicaid Supervisors and Caseworkers
DATE:	March 17, 2008
SUBJECT:	Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance for Iraqi and Afghani Special Immigrants
EFFECTIVE:	February 1, 2008

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

Effective December 26, 2007, Section 525 of Title V of Division G of Public Law 110-161, granted Iraqi and Afghani aliens Special Immigrant (SI) Status under section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Individuals and family members granted this SI Status are eligible for entitlement programs, including Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance (RRF/MRF), and refugee social services the same as refugees admitted under section 207 of the INA. Afghan individuals and family members granted this SI Status are eligible for entitlement programs, including Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance (RRF/MRF), and refugee social services and other benefits the same as refugees for a period of six (6) months from the Date of Arrival.

According to Section 1244 of Public Law 110-181, effective January 28, 2008, Iraqi individuals and family members granted this SI Status are eligible for entitlement programs, including Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance (RRF/MRF), and refugee social services the same as refugees admitted under section 207 of the INA for a period of eight (8) months from the Date of Arrival.

For Iraqi/Afghan immigrants who acquire SI Status while already in the US, the date of eligibility for RRF/MRF (their “entry” date) is the date of grant of SI Status. Until an Iraqi/Afghan in parole or some other non-immigrant status becomes an SI with documentation of this status, he/she is not eligible for RRF/MRF. In no case can eligibility begin on a date prior to December 26, 2007.

II. POLICY PROCEDURES

For the RRF/MRF programs, Iraqi and Afghan aliens and family members who claim SI status must provide verification that they have been admitted under section 101(a)(27) of the INA.

The date of eligibility for RRF/MRF is not the date of application for RRF/MRF, but the Date of Arrival or date of grant of SI status.

The first month an SI individual may receive benefits is December 2007. If an SI individual applied for and was denied benefits prior to the enactment of this law, the case may be reopened and benefits granted no earlier than December 2007, provided it is still within the 8 or 6 months eligibility time frame.

The 8 month or 6 month period of eligibility begins in the Date of Arrival month or grant of SI status month.

EXAMPLES

Date of Arrival – Iraqi SI	Date of Application	Certification Period
October 11, 2007—Eight months from Date of Arrival is October through May.	January 8, 2008	5 months--January 2008 through May 2008.
December 12, 2007--Eight months from Date of Arrival is December through July.	February 26, 2008	6 months--February 2008 through July 2008.
June 10, 2007 – Eight months from Date of Arrival is June through January.	July 2007 – denied Reopen and approve benefits beginning December 2007	2 months – December 2007 & January 2008
September 19, 2007 – Date of Arrival as Parolee November 19, 2007 – granted SI status - Eight months from grant of SI status is November through June	December 2007	7 months – December 2007 through June 2008

Date of Arrival – Afghan SI	Date of Application	Certification Period
October 11, 2007—Six months from Date of Arrival is October through March.	January 8, 2008	3 months--January 2008 through March 2008.
December 12, 2007--Six months from Date of Arrival is December through May.	February 26, 2008	4 months--February 2008 through May 2008.
August 10, 2007 – Six months form Date of Arrival is August through January.	September 2007 – denied Reopen and approve benefits beginning December 2007	2 months – December 2007 & January 2008
September 19, 2007 – Date of Arrival as Parolee November 19, 2007 – granted SI status - Six months from grant of SI status is November through April	December 2007	5 months – December 2007 through April 2008

III. IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUCTIONS

This change is effective with each application taken or processed on or after February 1, 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact the State Refugee office via telephone at (919) 733-4650 or email Gail Andersen at Gail.Andersen@ncmail.net.

Sincerely,

/S/

Marlene Myers, Program Manager

Refugee Assistance Program

Attachments

Gda

ES_RA_AL-1-2008a1

ES_RA_AL-1-2008a2