Other Cash Assistance Programs
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) provides financial assistance to people admitted to the United States as refugees. Adult refugees without minor children and refugee families who do not qualify for CalWORKs may be eligible to receive RCA benefits during the first 8 months of residency in the United States.
Refugee families with minor children who do not meet the RCA requirements, but who meet the income and property limits of CalWORKs may be eligible to receive CalWORKs cash assistance. Both CalWORKs and RCA eligible refugees may also meet the requirements for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and other benefits.
To be eligible for RCA benefits in California, refugee families and adult refugees without children must fit into at least one of the following categories:
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- Individuals and couples with no minor children
- Families who are not CalWORKs eligible (i.e., unemployed less than 30 days and have resided in the U.S. less than 8 months)
- Pregnant women in the first two trimesters of their pregnancy (i.e., six months or less)
- Trafficking victims
- Persons granted asylum
– The income limits for the RCA Program are the same as those for the CalWORKs Program.
– Eligible refugees may only receive RCA for 8 months starting from the refugee’s date of entry into the United States. Applicants for RCA must provide documentation of refugee status.
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Once approved, RCA clients must participate in employment and training activities, which may include:
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- English language training
- Vocational training
- Job placement services
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Applications for RCA must be received in person at a Community Service Center near you.
Tribal TANF (TT)
Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal and state funded program that provides time limited assistance to Native American families with children in an effort to provide care for those children whether in their homes or in the home of a relative.
This program was created by Native Americans to provide cash aid assistance, employment services, and supportive service to meet the specific needs of Native American families. It is designed with the flexibility to address and focus on a variety of cultural and traditional needs.
Assistance includes, but is not limited to:
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- Cash aid
- Diversion
- Employment Services
- Supportive Services
- Transitional Services
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Applications for Tribal TANF must be received in person at a Community Service Center near you.
General Relief
The General Relief program provides temporary assistance to eligible adults age 18-64. For more information click here.
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants
The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people who have little or no income to meet their basic needs. For more information click here.