How Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance Works

What refugee cash and medical information covers

Refugee cash and medical information are two separate programs run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Cash information provides a monthly payment to cover basic living expenses like rent, food, and utilities. Medical information covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and preventive health services — things your health insurance would normally pay for.

These programs exist because refugees arriving in the United States often have no income, no savings, and no health insurance when they first arrive. The programs are temporary: cash information typically runs for up to eight months after arrival, and medical coverage lasts for the same period or until you become may be able to access for Medicaid, whichever comes first.

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to receive these benefits. You need to be a person admitted to the United States as a refugee under the Refugee Act of 1980, or in some cases a asylee, Special Immigrant Visa holder, or victim of human trafficking.

Key Takeaways

• Refugee cash information provides monthly payments for eight months after arrival to cover rent, food, and basic living costs, with the exact amount varying by state.
• Refugee medical information covers doctor visits, hospital care, and prescriptions for the same eight-month period or until you may have access to for Medicaid, whichever ends first.
• Your local resettlement agency — the organization that helped you arrive — handles enrollment and can tell you the payment amount and medical coverage details for your state.
• After eight months, you may be able to switch to regular Medicaid or state information programs if your income remains low enough.
• The programs are administered by state governments using federal funding, so rules and payment amounts differ by state.

Who can receive refugee cash and medical information

You are may be able to access if you were admitted to the United States as a refugee, an asylee, a Special Immigrant Visa holder (including Afghan and Ukrainian evacuees), or a victim of human trafficking. The key requirement is that your status was granted by U.S. immigration authorities — not that you are a citizen or permanent resident.

There is no income limit to receive these benefits when you first arrive. However, if you have been in the country for more than a few months and your income has grown, your state may reduce or end your cash information. Medical information usually continues for the full eight months regardless of income, but this varies by state.

You must be living in the state where you were resettled. If you move to a different state, you may need to reapply or your benefits may stop. Contact your resettlement agency before moving to understand how it affects your information.

How to enroll and what documents you need

Your resettlement agency — the organization that helped coordinate your arrival — will typically enroll you in both programs automatically or guide you through enrollment during your first week in the country. You do not need to search for a separate office or submit a separate process in most cases.

Bring your immigration documents (your refugee travel document, asylee status letter, or other proof of your status) and a form of identification. You will also need proof of where you are living, such as a lease, a utility bill, or a letter from your sponsor or host. If you have a Social Security number, bring that as well; if not, the resettlement agency can help you obtain one.

The resettlement agency will give you information about your monthly cash payment amount, which medical providers accept your coverage, and how to access care. Keep this information and the card or document they give you — you will need it when you see a doctor or go to a pharmacy.

How much cash information you receive each month

The monthly payment amount varies significantly by state. Some states provide a flat amount to all refugees; others base the payment on family size or household composition. The federal government sets a minimum standard, but states can and do pay different amounts.

Your resettlement agency will tell you the exact amount you will receive and when payments begin — usually within the first two weeks after arrival. Payments are typically deposited into a bank account or issued on a debit card. If you do not have a bank account, ask your resettlement agency about opening one; many banks offer accounts designed for newcomers.

The payment is meant to cover basic needs only: rent, food, utilities, and essential household items. It is not meant to cover transportation, childcare, or other costs, though some states offer separate programs for those needs. Your resettlement agency can tell you what other information may be available in your state.

How medical information works and what it covers

Medical information covers the cost of visits to doctors, clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, prescriptions, and preventive care like vaccinations and health screenings. You do not pay anything out of pocket when you receive care — the program pays the provider directly.

When you see a doctor or go to a pharmacy, tell them you have refugee medical information and provide the card or document your resettlement agency gave you. Not all providers accept this coverage, so ask your resettlement agency for a list of doctors and clinics in your area that do. If you need a specialist or hospital care, your primary care doctor can refer you to someone who accepts your coverage.

Refugee medical information does not cover dental care, vision care, or mental health counseling in most states, though some states have added these services. Ask your resettlement agency what is covered in your state. If you need services that are not covered, your resettlement agency may know about other programs that can help.

What happens after eight months

When your eight-month period of refugee cash and medical information ends, you will need to find other ways to cover living expenses and health care. The most common path is to switch to your state's Medicaid program for medical coverage, if your income is low enough to may have access to.

Medicaid rules vary by state, but most states cover people with very low incomes. Your resettlement agency or a local community health center can help you explore for Medicaid before your refugee medical information ends. Some states have programs that help refugees transition to Medicaid automatically.

For cash information after eight months, you may be able to receive Temporary information for Needy Families (TANF) or your state's equivalent program, again if your income is low enough. Your resettlement agency can tell you whether you may have access to and help you explore. Many refugees also find employment during the eight-month period, which reduces or eliminates the need for cash information by the time the program ends.

Working while receiving information

You can work and receive refugee cash and medical information at the same time. There is no rule that says you must stop working or that earning income will automatically end your benefits. However, if your income rises above a certain level, your state may reduce your cash information payment.

Your resettlement agency can tell you the income threshold for your state and how much you can earn before your payment is reduced. Some states reduce the payment dollar-for-dollar with earnings; others allow you to earn a certain amount before reducing benefits. Ask your agency for the exact rules in your state before you start working.

Working is encouraged, and your resettlement agency can help you find job training, language classes, or employment services. Many refugees transition off cash information within a few months because they find work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive cash information if I move to a different state?

Rules vary by state. Some states will continue your benefits if you move; others will end them. Contact your resettlement agency or your current state's refugee information office before you move to find out what will happen. If you move, you may need to explore for information in your new state, and the payment amount may be different.

What if I don't have a Social Security number yet?

You can still enroll in both programs without a Social Security number. Your resettlement agency will help you obtain one during your first weeks in the country. Until then, you can use your immigration documents and identification to access care and receive cash information.

Does refugee information count as income if I explore for other benefits?

In most cases, no. Refugee cash information is usually not counted as income when you explore for other programs like housing information or food stamps. However, rules can vary by program and state. Ask the organization you are explore to whether refugee information counts as income for their program.

Can I receive both refugee cash information and unemployment benefits?

This depends on your state and your immigration status. Some states allow refugees to receive unemployment insurance; others do not. If you lose a job, ask your resettlement agency whether you can file for unemployment in your state and how it affects your refugee cash information.

What if my resettlement agency is not helping me enroll?

Contact your state's refugee information office directly. You can find contact information through your state's department of human services or by calling 211, which connects you to local social services. Bring your immigration documents and proof of where you are living when you contact them.