THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED FOR FEDERAL BENEFITS. SEE ACWDL, July 6, 2022, summarized here.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided guidance regarding eligibility of Ukranian nationals for various public benefits programs.
Ukranian arrivals who have refugee or asylee status qualify for CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI, and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA).
Ukranian refugees and asylees are eligible for RCA. Persons with Temporary Protected Status are not eligible for RCA. Counties must accept a declaration under penalty of perjury of the applicant’s immigration status while documentary verification is pending.
Ukranian nationals who have Temporary Protected Status are not eligible for most federal or state public benefits.
Ukranian humanitarian parolees can be eligible for CalWORKs with state funds. This is because humanitarian parolees have Permanent Residence Under Color of Law (PRUCOL). This includes eligibility for Homeless Assistance and Housing Support Program, both of which can supplement federal refugee resettlement funding.
Ukranian humanitarian parolees are eligible for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). They are not eligible for SSI.
Ukranian humanitarian parolees are eligible for CalFresh or California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) if they have been paroled into the United States for at least one year. Paroled for at least one year means the duration of parole. A humanitarian parolee is eligible for CalFresh or CFAP from the day they are paroled into the United States if their parole will last at least one year. Ukranian humanitarian parolees for less than one year are not eligible for CalFresh or CFAP.
Public interest parolees must be admitted to the United States for at least one year and must meet two additional criteria to be eligible for CalFresh, including five years of residence, working 40 quarters, children under age 18, elderly or disabled as defined. People who do not meet two of the additional criteria can be eligible for CFAP.
Ukranians with refugee, asylee or humanitarian parolee status are eligible for Project Roomkey, Bringing Families Home, Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, and Home Safe.
Ukranian arrivals, including humanitarian parolees, can be eligible for Medi-Cal.
Regardless of the documentation presented, counties must verify immigration status with the SAVE system. (ACIN I-40-22, April 22, 2022, ACIN I-40-22E, May 24, 2022.)