The objective of Refugee Employment Services (RES) is to ensure that RCA participants obtain employment within the 8-month period of eligibility for RCA, or within 12 months of arrival in the United States. RES includes a full range of employment services, including development of an Individual/Family Self-Sufficiency Plan, an Individual Employability Plan, world-of-work and job orientation, language training, employment related support, job clubs, job workshops, job development, referral to job opportunities, supported job search, job placement and follow-up.

RCA participants must comply with RES requirements unless exempt. Inability to communicate in English does NOT exempt a refugee from registration for employment services, participation in employability service programs, or acceptance of appropriate offers of employment.


RCA participants must enroll with RES within 30 days of RCA eligibility approval. Each RCA recipient must participate in RES at least 35 hours per week unless he/she meets 1 of the following conditions:

●	Employed at least 30 hours per week.
●	Age 60 or over.
●	Temporarily or permanently ill or disabled. Verification from a medical authority is required if the illness or disability is expected to last more than 30 days. See MEDICAL CERTIFICATION in 0002.39 (Glossary: Lump Sum...).
●	Responsible for the care of a spouse who is ill or disabled. Verification from a medical authority is required if the illness or disability is expected to last more than 30 days.
●	Experiencing a personal or family crisis, as determined by the agency. Redetermine such an exemption monthly.

Refugees exempt from RES may volunteer to participate in RES. Volunteer participants must participate on the same level as mandatory participants. If a volunteer participant fails to comply with RES requirements, close the RES case. The volunteer participant remains eligible for RCA through his or her 8-month eligibility period.

NOTE: The WorkForce One (WF1) interface is not set-up for RCA electronic referrals to ESPs. All communication must be done by paper. Refer all mandatory RCA ES participants using the Refugee Cash Assistance Program Employment Services Referral (DHS-3166R) (PDF). FAX the referral to the ESP.

Refer refugees who are disabled, age 65 or older to SSA to apply for SSI. No SSI Interim Assistance Authorization (DHS-1795) (PDF) is required and no RCA overpayment results, as SSA would have budgeted the RCA benefits as income for SSI grants.

When a refugee fails to comply with program requirements, or reaches his/her 8th month of eligibility, terminate or close the case. See 0030.21 (Closing/Terminating RCA). Refugees who are eligible for federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits but no longer participating in RES, must participate in SNAP E&T activities unless they meet an exemption. See 0028.06.03 (Who Must Participate in Empl. Services/SNAP E&T).

For a list of Refugee Employment Service Providers, contact the Resettlement Programs Office, Community Living Supports, Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 6951, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0951.