To be eligible for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), an individual must be ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) solely because of their immigration status. To remain eligible for CAPI, the recipient’s eligibility for SSI must be redetermined every 12 months.
Noncitizens who meet the definition of “qualified alien” for SSI must be referred to the Social Security Administration to apply for SSI annually. As of March 9, 2024, “qualified alien” includes citizens of the Compact of Free Association states. This also includes victims of human trafficking who have received a certification letter from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.
When the county determines that a CAPI applicant or recipient is not a “qualified alien” they must not be referred to the Social Security Administration to apply for SSI. This includes U Visa applicants or holders, asylum seekers, or another PRUCOL status. Counties must investigate a CAPI applicant or recipient’s immigration status prior to referring them to apply for SSI.
A CAPI applicant or recipient who does not apply for SSI within 30 days of being told to do so by the county is not eligible for CAPI unless they have good cause for not applying for SSI. In this circumstance, counties must complete the SSI application with the Social Security Administration, if possible, or must otherwise initiate the SSI application process.
The California Department of Social Services states several ways that CAPI applicants or recipients can verify that they have are ineligible for SSI or have applied for SSI.
When a CAPI recipient naturalizes, they are no longer eligible for CAPI. However, CAPI can conditionally continue for recipients who naturalize while receiving benefits, as long as they remain otherwise eligible, request conditional benefits, apply for SSI, and cooperate with the Social Security Administration. (ACIN I-13-25, March 18, 2025.)