TANF Differential Payments
A TANF Differential Payment is temporary assistance available under the
Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) and funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). This payment is for refugee households receiving CA from FAA. The Payment is issued by a
Voluntary Agency (VOLAG).
When the refugee household has dependents, a VOLAG contacts the FAA Refugee Unit via email or fax for verification of the household’s CA eligibility. The
FAA Refugee Offices determine CA, NA, and MA eligibility for refugee households with dependents.
When the budgetary unit is approved for CA, they may be eligible to receive the TANF Differential Payment from a VOLAG. The payment is available for eight months for refugees who arrived before 10/01/2021. Refugees arrived on or after 10/01/2021 may be eligible to receive 12 months of benefits. It starts from the date of the refugee household’s entry into the U.S. The arrival month is included in the eight or 12-month count. The payment time period ends the first day of the ninth month after entry in the U.S.
NOTE For asylees, the eight or 12-month maximum eligibility period begins from the month the asylee status is granted, not the month of U.S. entry.
The TANF Differential Payments are countable for NA and not countable for CA.
Key the OF Unearned Income Code in the INC TYPE field on UNIC to budget the TANF Differential payments received by the refugee household.
NOTE Documentation must support determinations of eligibility and benefit level.