Federal funds are provided to national voluntary refugee resettlement agencies such as Catholic Charities or the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which provide services (including food, clothing and shelter) related to initial resettlement of new refugees. Assistance involving these funds will usually be received during the first 30 days after the refugee arrives in this country.

Refugee reception and placement grants are provided by the Department of State. Refugee matching grants are provided by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Assistance involving a refugee reception and placement grant or a refugee matching grant is subject to the general rules pertaining to income and income exclusions.

NOTE: Assistance involving a refugee reception and placement grant or a refugee matching grant is not federally funded income based on need (SI 00830.170). However, do not confuse this assistance with Refugee Cash Assistance, Cuban and Haitian Entrant Cash Assistance, and federally reimbursed general assistance. The latter three types of assistance are provided by governmental entities rather than the voluntary agencies and pertinent instructions are found in SI 00830.645.

Consider the assistance to be provided and funded by the voluntary agency. Determine the nature of the assistance and apply the appropriate operating instructions pertaining to income and income exclusions. Related instructions include:

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  SI 00815.050 (Medical and Social Services)

  SI 00830.605 (Home Energy Assistance and Support and Maintenance Assistance)

  SI 00835.300 ff. (Presumed Maximum Value)

  SI 00810.420 ($20 General Income INCOME Exclusion)