Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) Referrals
The Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP), administered by the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), provides temporary cash and medical assistance to newly arrived refugees.
Policy
Generally, refugees entering Arizona first contact a Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) voluntary agency (VOLAG). Voluntary agencies are also known as resettlement agency (RA). Refugees are not required to first contact a VOLAG or a RA to submit applications for FAA benefits. They can directly apply in person, by mail or fax, through HEAplus, over the phone, or through My Family Benefits (MFB). When needed, an RRP VOLAG or RA sends a refugee’s application for NA and CA to an FAA Refugee Office. (See FAA Refugee Offices for contact information)
The goals of the RRP include all of the following:
●The effective resettlement of refugees
●Assist refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency utilizing all of the following:
Supportive Services
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
TANF Differential Payments
Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMAP)
The RRP program is available to refugees of all national origins. For the purpose of the RRP program, participants with any of the following statuses are referred to as refugees:
●Refugees
●Asylees
●Amerasians
●Cubans or Haitian Entrants
●Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Holders
●Trafficking Victims
●Ukrainian Refugees
RRP Voluntary Agency (VOLAG) or Resettlement Agency (RA) Responsibility
The RRP VOLAG or RA is responsible for all of the following:
●Determining Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) eligibility for adult only refugee households and issuing RCA Payments.
●Issuing TANF Differential Payments when a refugee household receives Cash Assistance (CA) from the Family Assistance Administration (FAA).
●Referring refugees to FAA for both of the following when needed:
Nutrition Assistance (NA)
Cash Assistance (CA)
●Sending a copy of the application via fax or email to an FAA Refugee Office to register the application and to request an interview date.
NOTE Initial interviews are completed on a daily basis at the VOLAG, RA, or at the FAA Refugee Office. This depends on the number of refugee arrivals requesting FAA assistance.
●Ensuring that the refugee is aware of all available support services.
●Assisting the refugee to become self-sufficient through employment readiness and placement. Work program registration and participation is emphasized.
Newly arrived refugees are provided VOLAG Reception and Placement assistance by the VOLAG or RA. These payments are not countable as income or resources for NA and CA.
When the VOLAG or RA determines that a refugee may be eligible for FAA assistance, VOLAG or RA staff assist the refugee in completing the official FAA application. All FAA applications for refugees during the refugee's first 12 months in the United States are processed at designated FAA Refugee Offices. After the first 12 months are completed, refugee application processing is not restricted to the FAA Refugee Office.
Verification
See Qualified Noncitizen Documents for refugee verification.
Legal Authorities
45 CFR 400
45 FR 59323
Section 412(a)(9) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
last revised 02/06/2023