Refugee Resettlement Program Certification Periods Extended Through January 31, 2021 - COVID-19

Illinois Department of Human Services Logo
 

12/22/2020

Policy Memo

  • The Federal Administration for Children and Families/Office of Refugee Resettlement (ACF/ORR) has issued guidance regarding extending emergency support for refugees and asylees due to unemployment resulting from the COVID-19 health crisis.
  • Individuals approved for the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) cash on or after 04/01/2019 and have successfully exited the program and subsequently lost employment or sustained a reduction in hours which would requalify them for RRP may reapply and receive additional benefits through January 31, 2021 if determined eligible.
  • RRP cash EDG's will be identified centrally in IES and the benefit certification periods will be extended through 01/31/2021.
  • RRP cash EDG's that closed 09/30/2020 will be reopened and cash supplements will be issued centrally for October, November and December 2020.
  • The eligibility period will remain at eight months for customers who became eligible for RRP on or after June 1, 2020.
  • A Client Notice CN 20.33/CN 20.33S (pdf). will be mailed to the affected cases to inform customers of this change.

Due to the COVID-19 health crisis and resulting unemployment, the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has approved an extension for the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) cash  eligibility period for customers who previously received an extension or have successfully exited the program and then subsequently either lost employment or sustained a reduction in hours that would requalify them for RRP. This policy does not apply to RRP applications filed on or after 06/01/2020.

 Inactive RRP

RRP customers that were approved on or after 04/01/2019 and have had their case canceled due to receiving 8 months of benefits or due to change of circumstances may reapply and receive additional benefits through 01/31/2021, if determined eligible. These applications should be sent to Special Units at DHS.FCS.VTTC@illinois.gov. RRP customers that became eligible after June 1, 2020 will remain at an 8 month eligibility period.

RRP cash EDG's that closed 09/30/2020 will be reopened and cash supplements will be issued centrally for October, November and December 2020.

Client Notice

A client notice CN 20.33/CN 20.33S (pdf) will be mailed to inform customers of the change in their RRP cash certification period.

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services