Changes in RCA Eligibility

Greetings, Union Family,

On October 7, 2026, your 008 governing board met with DHA management to discuss changes to Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) eligibility. The state extended RCA eligibility from 4 months to 8 months. The automation for sending NOA’s has not been completed in CalSAWS, so staff are having to send out manual NOA’s. We asked that the department create a general functioning guide showing staff how to create a NOA for any program, and to hyperlink that guide within the program document specific to RCA. They agreed and will be adding this.

Additionally, they shared that there is a special project group working through these cases that need to be sent a SAR 7 or be discontinued until automation is complete. There are two (2) staff in CalWORKS continuing at Greenhaven who are assigned to the project, but we asked that all staff at Greenhaven in CW continuing be given the opportunity to partake in it if they choose. The department agreed to this as well.

The state may change the eligibility timeframe from 8 months to 12 months in the near future. We asked that when the department receives confirmation of that change, they notify UPE. They agreed to that, so stay tuned.

UPE thanks advocates Nichole Gorman, Stephanie McCall, and Michelle Moyer.

TOGETHER WE'RE STRONG!