What is Public Assistance?
Public assistance includes government cash, food stamps, and medical assistance to help the poorest members of the United States . Public assistance is designed to assist the least fortunate members of society; people who suffer from either debilitating physical conditions or mental illness as well as people who have reached retirement age. It is also designed to assist people for short periods of time when they have lost a job and cannot provide for themselves. You may be eligible for public assistance as a refugee because you may have come to the United States with very little.
The money for public assistance is taken out of paychecks of residents in the United States in the form of taxes. Public assistance is funded through taxes on the income of those who are working.
What is IRC Assistance?
IRC assists you by providing core services. We are primarily a service agency. Some of these services include cash assistance for rent, utilities, food, transportation, and emergencies. This is not public assistance. Your caseworker will explain how much IRC cash assistance you will receive, based on whether you have relatives here and how long your relatives have been here. IRC will also determine whether or not you will be in the Match Grant program. This program is for those who are able and eligible. Those in the Match Grant program are required to start working early and take the first job available to them. Different members of our staff will provide or locate services that can assist you during your initial months in the United States .
Public assistance has changed
In the United States the perceptions about public assistance have changed considerably in recent history. Americans have come to see too much public assistance as harmful and the people who receive public assistance as unproductive citizens.
Unfortunately, world perception is that you can come to the United States and live well without having to do anything. This is not true in Georgia . Here, you cannot live on public assistance. You have to think of public assistance as one way of getting income to support your household, including medical needs while you are developing more steady means of support and income.
In addition, you will not automatically be entitled to lifetime assistance just by satisfying the welfare eligibility requirements. This is temporary assistance, with benefits available for a lifetime maximum of four years (48 months) and mandatory work for most able-bodied adult recipients. In most cases, refugees only receive assistance during the first 8 months after you arrive in the United States . You should prepare for this early after your arrival.
IRC and DFACS
DFACS is the Department of Family and Children Services, a governmental agency that administers the public assistance programs. IRC is a private humanitarian organization that is not at all affiliated with DFACS. You will probably apply for public assistance at the IRC office since the DFACS caseworker for refugees will come to the office to make the process easier. Your IRC caseworker can help you with questions you have about public assistance, but it is best to deal with the DFACS caseworker directly. Our caseworkers have no control over how much assistance you receive. It is best to address your questions to your DRACS caseworker when you apply for public assistance. Again, IRC assistance and public assistance are separate with IRC being a private organization, not a governmental one.
Refugee Cash Assistance
RCA is available to all refugees and Asylees within 8 months of arrival. RCA funds can be used by refugees with families, single people, or couples with no children. RCA programs are run through TANF office. To qualify for RCA, applicant must be:
Within 8 months of arrival or of a grant of asylum
Receiving no other sources of income such as Matching r=grant financial assistance or earning from employment
Receiving no TANF or general assistance funds once applicants are no longer eligible for RCA, they can apply for TANF and general assistance funds.
