The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided guidance regarding eligibility of Special Immigrant Visa holders and special immigrant parolees in the SQ/SI categories (collectively called Special Immigrant Parolees) from Afghanistan for Refugee Resettlement Program, CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits.
Special Immigrant Parolees are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance, Refugee Medical Assistance and other Office of Refugee Resettlement programs. A Social Security Number is not required to be eligible for these programs.
Special Immigrant Parolees and their families are eligible for CalWORKs effective on their date of entry to the United States.
Special Immigrant Parolees are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. If for some reason Special Immigrant Parolees are found to be ineligible for SSI, the can be eligible for Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants.
Special Immigrant Parolees are immediately eligible for CalFresh.
Regardless of documentation provided, the county must submit these cases to the SAVE system for immigration status verification. (ACWDL, August 30, 2021.)