R986-300. Refugee Resettlement Program, R986. Workforce Services, Employment Development, Utah Administrative Code

Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)

R986. Workforce Services, Employment Development

R986-300-301. Authority for the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) and Other Applicable Rules

Latest version.

(1) The Department provides services to eligible refugees pursuant to 45 CFR 400 and 45 CFR 401 et seq., (2000) which are incorporated herein by reference.

(2) The Department has opted to operate a Publicly-Administered Refugee Cash Assistance Program as provided in 45 CFR 400.65 through 400.68.

(3) Rule R986-100 applies to RRP.

(4) Applicable provisions of R986-200 apply to RRP except as noted in this rule.

R986-300-302. Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP)

Latest version.

(1) RRP provides resettlement assistance to refugees to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency within the shortest possible time after entry into the state.

(2) Financial and medical assistance may be provided to eligible refugees who meet the time limit requirements of R986-300-306 as funding permits.

(3) Refugee Social Services as identified in 45 CFR 400.154, and 400.155 may be provided to eligible refugees who meet the eligibility requirements of 45 CFR 400.152.

(4) Refugee child welfare services will be provided to refugee unaccompanied minor children in accordance with 45 CFR 400 Subpart H.

(5) The following definitions apply to RRP:

(a) "Appropriate employment" means employment that pays a wage which meets or exceeds the applicable federal or state minimum wage law and has daily and weekly hours customary to the occupation. If the minimum wage laws do not apply, the wage must equal what is normally paid for similar work and in no case less than three-fourths of the minimum wage rate.

(b) "Good cause" for quitting or refusing work can be established if the client shows:

(i) the job is vacant due to a strike, lockout, or other genuine labor dispute;

(ii) the client is required to work contrary to his membership in the union governing that occupation;

(iii) the employment was deemed a risk to the health or safety of the worker;

(iv) the employment lacked Workers' Compensation Insurance; or

(v) the individual is unable to engage in employment for physical reasons or lack of child care or transportation.

R986-300-303. Eligibility, Income Standards, and Amount of Assistance

Latest version.

(1) An applicant for RRP must provide proof, in the form of documentation issued by the USCIS, of being or having been:

(a) paroled as a refugee or asylee under Section 212(d)(5) of the INA;

(b) admitted as a refugee under Section 207 of the INA;

(d) a Cuban or Haitian entrant, in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR Part 401;

(e) certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to the United States as immigrants pursuant to Public Law 100-202 and Public Law 100-461;

(f) a victim of trafficking;

(g) admitted for permanent residence, provided the individual previously held one of the statuses listed in (a) through (f) of this section; or

(h) admitted for permanent residence under Special Immigrant Visas and provided benefits under federal law and in accordance with that federal law.

(2) The following aliens are not eligible for assistance:

(a) an applicant for asylum unless otherwise provided by federal law;

(b) humanitarian parolees;

(d) conditional entrants admitted under Section 203(a)(7) of the INA.

(3) Refugees who are single parents, two parents with one parent who is incapacitated, or specified relatives with dependent children must meet the eligibility and participation requirements, including cooperating with ORS to establish paternity and establish and enforce child support, of FEP and will be paid financial assistance under that program. All other refugees, including refugee households with two able-bodied parents and at least one dependent child, will be paid financial assistance under the RRP and must meet the federal RRP participation requirements.

(4) An applicant for RRP who voluntarily quit or refused appropriate employment without good cause within 30 calendar days prior to the date of application is ineligible for financial assistance for 30 days from the date of the voluntarily quit or refusal of employment. If the applicant is living with a spouse who is ineligible, the income and assets of the ineligible refugee will be counted in determining eligibility but the amount of financial assistance payment will be made as if the household had one less member.

(5) Refugees who are 65 years of age or older will be referred to SSA to apply for assistance under the SSI program.

(6) Income and asset eligibility and the amount of financial assistance available is determined under FEP rules, R986-200-230 through R986-200-240.

(7) If an otherwise eligible client demonstrates an urgent and immediate need for financial assistance, payment will be made on an expedited basis.

R986-300-304. Participation Requirements

Latest version.

(1) All refugee applicants must comply with the assessment and employment plan requirements in R986-200-207 and R986-200-209. If the assessment cannot be completed or an employment plan negotiated and signed within the time proscribed because of a lack of staff with language skills, the application shall be approved, the assessment completed, and employment plan negotiated and signed as soon as possible.

(2) The goal of participation is to promote family economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment within the shortest possible time after entrance to the state to enable the family to become self-supporting through the employment of one or more members of the family.

(3) If a refugee claims an inability to participate due to incapacity, medical proof is required. Acceptable proof is the same as for FEP found in R986-200-202(3).

(4) Refugees 65 years of age or older, blind, or disabled, are exempt from the work participation requirements of FEP or RRP.

(5) In addition to the requirements of an employment plan as found in R986-200-210, a refugee must, as a condition of receipt of financial assistance:

(a) unless already employed full time, register for work with the Department within 30 days of receipt of refugee financial assistance and participate in employment activities as required by the Department and other appropriate agency providing employment services;

(b) accept any and all offers of appropriate employment as determined by the Department or the local resettlement agency which was responsible for the initial resettlement of the refugee; and

(c) participate in any available social adjustment service or targeted assistance activities determined to be appropriate by the Department or the local resettlement agency which was responsible for the initial resettlement of the refugee.

(6) Education and training cannot be approved for any program which cannot be completed within one year.

(7) English language instruction funded under RRP must be provided concurrently with employment or employment related services.

R986-300-305. Failure to Comply with an Employment Plan

Latest version.

(1) If a client who is required to participate in an employment plan consistently fails to show good faith in complying with the employment plan, the client is required to participate in the conciliation process in R986-200-212 with the following exceptions:

(a) the client will be disqualified for a period of three months for the first occurrence and six months for the second occurrence. There is no reduction period as provided in R986-200-212(2),

(b) because the disqualification period for RRP is a time certain, there is no trial period as provided in R986-200-212(2), (3), and (5).

(2) If there are other household members included in the financial assistance payment, the other household members will continue to receive assistance provided those household members are eligible and complying with all of the requirements of RRP.

(3) If eligible, SNAP and medical assistance may be continued for the person who is disqualified for failure to comply with the requirements of an employment plan.

R986-300-306. Time Limits

Latest version.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) below, a refugee is eligible for financial assistance only during the first eight months after entry into the United States, regardless of when the refugee applies for financial assistance. Financial assistance cannot be paid for any months prior to the date of application.

(2) An asylee's entry date is determined to be the date that the individual was granted asylum in the United States.

(3) The date of entry for a victim of trafficking is established by the certification date.