Community Services Agency

RCA is cash assistance to refugees who have been determined ineligible for CW or SSI/SSP, and who have resided in the U.S. for no longer than the period of time required set at 12 months from date of entry.

You may apply by calling Community Service Agency (CSA) at 1-877-652-0734 for an application to be mailed to you, online at BenefitsCal.com, or in person at any CSA office (Please refer to office locations listed below). For CalWORKs, you must (both parents if a two-parent family) have a face-to-face interview with a case manager before benefits can be approved. If you are disabled and cannot come into the office, we may do a home visit or phone interview.

Apply online at: BenefitsCal

For information on completing the application through BenefitsCal visit the BenefitsCal Youtube Channel for How-To videos.

Both parents, if a two-parent family must have an interview with a case manager before benefits can be approved.

Community Services Agency (CSA)
251 E. Hackett Road
Modesto, CA 95358
1-877-652-0734

South County Community Center
1310 W. Main St
Turlock, CA 95380
1-877-652-0734

There are many factors to consider in determining eligibility. The interview may take up to 1 ½ hours, and the case manager may take up to 30 days to approve or deny an application after conducting an interview and receiving a completed application.

The following factors are considered in determining eligibility:

• Time-eligibility
• RCA eligibility is limited to 12 months following the refugee’s date of entry in the U.S. The month of entry, as indicated on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-94, is counted as the first month. Time-eligibility exceptions include asylees who are eligible for RCA beginning on the date they are granted asylum; victims of a severe form of trafficking who are eligible for RCA beginning on the date they are certified by the ORR; eligible family members of certified trafficking victims who are eligible for RCA from the date of entry into the U.S. or the date of the Derivative T visa is issued if already present in the U.S.
• Refugee status
• Applicants for assistance must provide proof, in the form of documentation that establishes one of the designated immigration statuses below:
• Individuals paroled as refugees or asylees under § 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
• Refugees admitted under § 207 of the INA
• Asylees whose status was granted under § 208 of the INA
• Cuban and Haitian entrants
• Any individual granted parole status as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant (Status Pending) or granted any other special status subsequently established under the immigration laws for nationals of Cuba or Haiti, regardless of the status of the individual at the time assistance or services are provided
• A national of Cuba or Haiti who was paroled into the U.S. has not acquired any other status under the INA and with respect to whom a final, non-appealable, and legally enforceable order of removal, deportation or exclusion has not been entered
• A national of Cuba or Haiti who is the subject of removal, deportation or exclusion proceedings under the INA and with respect to whom a final, non-appealable, and legally enforceable order of removal, deportation or exclusion has not been entered
• A national of Cuba or Haiti who has an application for asylum pending with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/USCIS or Department of Justice (DOJ)/Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and with respect to whom a final, non-appealable, and legally enforceable order of removal, deportation or exclusion has not been entered
• Certified as a victim of a severe form of trafficking by the ORR, and eligible family members of a victim of a severe form of trafficking certified by the ORR who have a T-2, T-3, T-4, or T-5 visa
• Certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants pursuant to Section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Program Appropriations Act of 1988
• Admitted for permanent residence provided the individual previously held one of the statuses identified above
• Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants per section 1244(g) of Div. A of Pub. L. 110-181, as amended (8 U.S.C. § 1157 note) and section 602(b) (8) of Div. F of Pub. L. 111-8, as amended (8 U.S.C. § 1101 note)
• Income and resources
• Income inclusion and exclusion considerations follow CW program rules, except for the sponsored alien provision. Any reception and placement cash received by a refugee after their arrival into the U.S. are not considered.
• Real and personal property limitations follow CW program rules, except for the sponsored alien provision. Any resources remaining in the applicant’s country of origin are not considered.
• Attendance in an institution of higher education
• Full-time students in an institution of higher education are not eligible for RCA. A full-time student is a student attending an institution of higher education at least:
• 12 semester hours or 12 quarter hours per academic term
• 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours per academic year
• Registration, employment and employment-directed educational/training requirements
• As an applicant for RCA, a refugee without good cause, within 30 consecutive calendar days immediately prior to the application for assistance, must not have voluntarily quit employment or have refused to accept an offer of employment or employment directed education/training, or refused to participate in a county approved or referred employment-directed education/training program
• As a condition of continued receipt of cash assistance, a recipient who is not exempt must register with an appropriate agency within 30 days of receipt of RCA, and participate in county approved employment services, and without good cause, voluntarily quit employment

No.

The CalWORKS IRT amount for each Assistance Unit (AU) is the lesser of A or B below.
A. $1,140 (55% of the FPL for a family of three) plus the amount of income last used to calculate the AUs monthly benefits or;
B. The amount of income which may render the AU ineligible for CalFresh, or 130% of the FPL, as shown in the chart below

In addition to documentation required by CW program regulations, RCA documentation must include the following:

• Name and address of the Resettlement Agency (RA) or local sponsor which resettled the refugee
• Documentation obtained from the RA or sponsor regarding assistance provided to the refugee, and whether the refugee has refused an offer of employment or has voluntarily quit a job
• Copy of Alien Registration Card
• Copy of other USCIS or vital documentation that establishes refugee status and date of entry

Tell your case manager if you have an emergency. Immediate Need payments may be available.

You may choose to have your payments issued either on a plastic debit card or directly to your bank account each month. Most families have their benefits automatically deposited during the first three days of each month on a plastic debit card called an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Your EBT card lets you access your benefits at Point of Sale (POS) devices in stores or at Automated Teller Machines (ATM). If you select Direct Deposit your monthly benefits are placed directly in your checking or savings account at your own bank each month.

EBT cards do not work for various reasons, such as the card may not be active, or there are no remaining benefits. Call 1-877-328-9677 for assistance.

The following are different ways you can find out information about your benefits:

• Call our Contact Center 1-877-652-0734 for information or to speak to a Customer Service Representative.
• Online at BenefitsCal.com
• In person at any Community Services Agency community offices

Call our Customer Assistance Center at 1-877-652-0734 to speak to a Customer Service Representative.