Minnesota Minnesota

Combined Manual

Combined Manual


PROCESSING RCA APPLICATIONS

ISSUE DATE: 05/2024

ALL RCA APPLICATIONS

The date of RCA application is the date the signed CAF Page Number 1 is date-stamped or signed/dated as received by either a county worker or a RCA eligibility worker in a Public-Private-Partnership agency (PPP). This date is the date of application for cash and SNAP. If the application is received on weekends, holidays, or after hours, the date of application will be the next business day.

Applicants do not need to provide a social security number to be eligible for RCA. Do not delay or deny RCA because the applicant does not have or has not received a social security number.


The PPP Administered RCA counties are listed below. All other counties administer their own RCA.

Anoka, Benton, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, Olmsted, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, and Washington Counties

APPLICATIONS FOR PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVALS
The Department of Human Services - Resettlement Programs Office (DHS-RPO) contracts with local resettlement agencies to administer the RCA program for the PPP counties.

New primary refugee arrivals into the state who reside in a PPP administered county must file their RCA applications with the local resettlement agency that processed their resettlement.

The PPP RCA eligibility worker at the local resettlement agency signs and dates the CAF Page Number 1 on behalf of the county agency.

It is the responsibility of the PPP RCA eligibility workers housed at local resettlement agencies to make all RCA eligibility determinations.

County workers in the PPP administered counties should not approve RCA eligibility (opening, closing or changing benefit levels).

Some primary refugee arrivals may not understand that they must file an application with the local resettlement agency that resettled them. If an RCA applicant submits application with the county, ask the applicant if they:

Are a PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL: This means they arrived to Minnesota as their initial resettlement state through a local resettlement agency.

PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL includes people with the following statuses:
- Refugees. See REFUGEES in 0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution).
- Amerasians. See AMERASIANS in
0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution).
- Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrants. See IRAQI OR AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS in
0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution).
If the applicant is a PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL, date-stamp the application and send the applicant to their local resettlement agency for RCA eligibility determination.
- For a list of local resettlement agencies, see
0030.01 (Local Resettlement Agencies).
- If the applicant is unsure which local resettlement agency they are connected to, follow the procedures listed below under OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS.

Are a SECONDARY REFUGEE ARRIVAL: This means they arrived to another state as their initial resettlement state and then moved to Minnesota. If they are secondary refugee arrivals, follow the procedures listed below under OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS.

Are an ASYLEE, CUBAN / HAITIAN ENTRANT, or VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING: If they have one of these RCA eligible statuses, follow the procedures listed below under OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS.


When an applicant files a CAF with a local resettlement agency and the application includes a request for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the RCA eligibility worker must:

Enter the CAF Page number 1 on the same day it is received at the local resettlement agency.

Review for expedited SNAP eligibility (immediately FAX a copy of the CAF if applying for SNAP and the applicant appears to be eligible for expedited service).

Immediately FAX the CAF Page number 1 to the county if the applicant requests SNAP.

Conduct an RCA and SNAP intake interview.

Obtain all verifications mandatory for RCA eligibility.

Approve, pend, or deny the RCA application.

FAX a copy of the CAF and verifications to the county contact person to process the SNAP.
- The county is not required to conduct a second face-to-face intake interview for processing the SNAP.
- For information on requirements for processing expedited SNAP services, see 0004.04 (Expedited SNAP).

- The county maintains the SNAP case after processing the SNAP application.

Provide RCA program and financial orientation.

Review Combined Six-Month Reports (CSRs) for RCA cases also receiving SNAP and FAX copies of the CSR and attachments to the county agency. A participant will not be required to report to both the local resettlement agency and to the county agency when a change occurs. The RCA eligibility worker will immediately report any changes to the county via fax or by phone.

Complete the 6-month RCA review in person or telephone.

Maintain the RCA case through the 12-month eligibility period.


APPLICATIONS FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS (Secondary Refugee Arrivals, Asylees, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, and Victims of Trafficking)

In addition to PRIMARY REFUGEE ARRIVALS, persons with the following statuses are also eligible to apply for RCA:

Secondary Refugee Arrivals. See SECONDARY REFUGEE in 0002.59 (Glossary: RSDI...).

Asylees. See ASYLEE in 0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution).

Cuban/Haitian Entrants. See CUBAN/HAITIAN ENTRANTS in 0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution).

Victims of Trafficking. See 0031.01.21 (Trafficking Victims).


These eligible populations are NOT resettled through a local resettlement agency in Minnesota, and are likely to submit RCA application to the county agency rather than a local resettlement agency. Once the county agency determines an applicant may be eligible for RCA, the county must:

Immediately process any requests for SNAP.

NOTE: Most RCA applicants may be eligible for expedited SNAP, see 0004.04 (Expedited SNAP).

Inform the applicant that the RCA application will be faxed to a local resettlement agency for RCA eligibility determination. Fax the application to the appropriate RCA PPP agency, based on applicant’s county of residence:

- Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC): Hennepin, Anoka, Carver, Scott, Ramsey, Washington and Dakota Counties. The RCA Lead will help triage cases from these counties to the RCA eligibility workers within the metro counties.

- Catholic Charities Diocese of Winona (CC-Rochester): Olmsted.

- Lutheran Social Service (LSS-St. Cloud): Benton, Kandiyohi, Sherburne, and Stearns.

Tell the applicant that they will receive a phone call from the RCA PPP agency within 7 days.

Ensure the applicant's correct and current contact information is listed on the application.

Provide the applicant with written contact information for the RCA Lead or Worker at the appropriate RCA PPP agency:

Hamdi Maalin - International Institute of MN (IIMN)
1694 Como Avenue
St Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 651-377-8606

Tar Paw – RCA Lead for all the PPP resettlement agencies RCA eligibility workers.

Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC)
122 W. Franklin Avenue, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: 612-230-3225

Fatema Giwa – Catholic Charities Diocese of Winona (CC-Rochester)
903 W Center Street #220
Rochester, MN 55902
Phone: 507-287-2047 ext 23

Adam Kadogo – Lutheran Social Service (LSS-St. Cloud)
2400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: 612-229-6295

Encourage the applicant to call the contact phone number if someone has not contacted them within 7 days.

Fax the entire application and all verifications to the appropriate RCA PPP agency:

International Institute of MN (IIMN)
FAX number: 651-647-9268, ATTN: RCA - Hamdi Maalin

Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC)
FAX number: 612-870-3622. ATTN: RCA - Tar Paw

Catholic Charities – Rochester (CC-Rochester)
FAX number: 507-287-2050. ATTN: RCA – Fatema Giwa

Lutheran Social Service – (LSS St. Cloud)
FAX number: 320-251-8898. ATTN: RCA – Adam Kadogo


When RCA Resettlement Agencies receives a referral from 1 of the metro PPP administered counties, the RCA eligibility worker must:

Enter a CASE/NOTE regarding the receipt of the application.

Contact the applicant by phone within 7 days of receipt of the application.

- If RCA eligibility worker is unsuccessful in reaching the applicant within 7 days, the RCA eligibility worker sends the applicant a letter requesting contact with the RCA eligibility worker. The letter is written in English AND the client’s preferred language, as indicated on the application.

- If the applicant fails to respond within 30 days from the date the letter is sent, the RCA application is denied for failure to complete an interview.

- If the client responds after an initial RCA application has been denied, a new application must be filed.

Enter a CASE/NOTE regarding any contacts or attempted contacts with the applicant.

Complete the RCA eligibility determination and processing and will maintain the RCA case through the 12-month eligibility period.


COUNTY ADMINISTERED RCA: All other Counties not listed above in the PPP Administered section.

All RCA applicants, residing outside of the PPP administered counties will continue to file the CAF with the agency in their county of residence. The county agencies will process RCA applications and maintain RCA cases through the 12-month RCA eligibility period.

RCA applicants may also submit an MNbenefits application to the county agency. For MNbenefits application date, follow RCA application date provision above, or see 0005.12.09 (Date of Application).

For moves from a county-administered program to a PPP administered county or moves from a PPP administered to a county-administered county, see 0030.27 (RCA - Moves Within the State).

For RCA case closure instructions, see 0030.21 (Closing RCA).imageimageimage

PREVIOUS REVISIONS

DateNotes
11/2023 corrections to RCA eligibility policy from 8 months to 12 months as well as updating reference 0004.04 due to title change and removing 0004.06 due to section is being deleted.
10/2022 updated policy from 8 months to 12 months as well as triage information for metro counties.
03/2022 update county information throughout.
02/2022 delete ApplyMN because it was replaced with MNbenefits.
10/2021 add date of application is next business day if application's received on weekend, holiday or after hours. Delete "Visa (SIV) Holders" from Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrants. Update International Institute of MN contact info. Update ApplyMN information.
12/2020 under the sub-heading "PPP ADMINISTERED RCA: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties" updates 5-month RCA face-to-face review to 6-month RCA face-to-face review.
08/2019 updates section throughout.
03/2017 Update cross-references to 0030.21 (Closing RCA) due to section title change. No policy was changed.
12/2016 updates section throughout.
05/2015 under the sub-heading SECONDARY MIGRANTS AND ASYLEES in the 2nd paragraph it updates the name for IIMN. It also in the 5th and 7th bullets changes the contact information to Aziza Mama.
12/2014 under the sub-heading for SECONDARY MIGRANTS AND ASYLEES in the 2nd paragraph in the 5th bullet updates the telephone extension for Karissa Neupert.

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