The California Department of Social Services has released guidance regarding benefits eligibility for public interest parolees when their parole status expires or is terminated.
Individuals paroled into the United States are eligible for CalWORKs. If an individual’s parole status expires or is terminated, and they are not in another qualifying noncitizen status, they are not eligible for CalWORKs. Change in immigration status is not a mandatory mid-period report. People who lose their parole status will be redetermined at their next semi-annual report or annual redetermination. Counties must complete a SAVE search before discontinuing benefits to ensure that they are not eligible under a different immigration status.
Parolees are no longer eligible for CalFresh unless they are Cuban-Haitian Entrants. Parolees who have not met the five-year waiting period or are exempt from the five year waiting period are eligible for the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP). A parolee may be eligible for CalFresh, or for CFAP after five years if they adjust their status to a status that is eligible for CalFresh or CFAP after five years.
The only parolees who are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) or Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA) are Cuban-Haitian Entrants who are paroled, Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees. Continuing eligibility for RCA/ECA is redetermined at the next semi-annual report.
Note that effective May 5, 2025, RCA/ECA eligibility is limited to four months. For cases where there is not a required semi-annual report because of the four-month limit on benefits, the county should only discontinue benefits before the four months have been used if there is a voluntary report of RCA/ECA benefits.
Note that for purposes of these benefits programs, Cuban-Haitian refers to benefits eligibility, rather an immigration status. For purposes of benefits eligibility, a Cuban-Haitian Entrant is:
(1) 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; and
“(2) any other national of Cuba or Haiti-
“(A) who-
“(i) was paroled into the United States and has not acquired any other status under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.];
“(ii) is the subject of removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act; or
“(iii) has an application for asylum pending with the Immigration and Naturalization Service; and
“(B) with respect to whom a final, nonappealable, and legally enforceable order of removal has not been entered.” (Refugee Education and Assistance Act of 1980 § 501(e).)
Cuban-Haitian Entrant parolees whose parole expires or is terminated may lose parole-based employment authorization, but may remain eligible for employment services. Counties should review those cases to ensure that Cuban-Haitian Entrant parolees whose parole expires or is terminated are enrolled in appropriate activities. (ACIN I-15-26, April 24, 2026.)
