Benefits for Cuban/Haitian Entrants

FACT SHEET

Are you a Cuban or Haitian individual who has been granted entry into the United States?

You may be eligible for cash assistance, medical assistance, employment preparation, job placement, English language training, and other services offered through ORR. You may also be eligible for federal “mainstream” (non-ORR funded) benefits, such as cash assistance through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health insurance through Medicaid, and food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This document focuses on the benefits and services that ORR funds.

Who may qualify as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant?

You may qualify as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant if you are a Cuban or Haitian national: 1) granted parole as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant;¹ 2) in removal proceedings;² or 3) with an application for asylum pending.³

Where do I sign up for ORR benefits/services to qualify as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant?

ORR provides funding to state governments, resettlement agencies, and other nonprofit communitybased organizations to provide benefits and services for eligible individuals. You can sign up at the state government benefits office or closest resettlement agency in your state beginning on or after the date that you qualify as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant. For a state-by-state listing of local resettlement agencies, view the ORR state program directory, which also includes a link to ORR state contacts: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/map/find-resources-and-contacts-your-state.

When should I sign up for ORR benefits/services?

ORR-funded cash and medical assistance are limited to a period of time from your date of ORR eligibility.

What should I bring with me?

You should bring proof of your eligibility as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant and the date you received it. Types of proof include: 1) an I-94 (DHS Arrival/Departure Record) noting parole; 2) a DHS form indicating a Notice to Appear, Order of Release on Recognizance, or other removal proceedings form; 3) a form from an immigration judge or USCIS showing pending application for asylum; 4) an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with selected codes; or 5) other documentation issued by the federal government indicating that you are eligible.

This list does not include all types of documentation or specific information on your documentation that may prove your eligibility as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant. For a complete list go to: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/orr/orr_fact_sheet_cuban_haitian_entrant.pdf (PDF).

What are some of the benefits and services I can receive as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant?

Some Cuban/Haitian Entrants are eligible to apply for federal mainstream benefits in their state, such as cash assistance through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health insurance through Medicaid, and food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If you are not eligible to receive these mainstream benefits, you can be screened for eligibility at a state government benefits office or the closest resettlement agency in your state for the following ORR benefits and services:

Initial ORR Benefits

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
Counting from their date of eligibility, individuals may receive RCA to help meet their most basic needs, such as food, shelter, and transportation. (Individuals with an ORR eligibility date on or after May 5, 2025, are eligible for four months of RCA.)

ORR Matching Grant (MG) Program
Some may participate in the ORR Matching Grant (MG) Program, an early self-sufficiency program. Enrollment slots are limited in number and by location. The MG Program provides cash assistance, intensive case management, and employment services to help clients immediately find and maintain employment. The goal of the program is to assist clients to become economically self-sufficient within the 240-day MG service period. Individuals should enroll in the MG Program as soon as possible after their date of eligibility.

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)
Those not eligible for Medicaid may receive RMA from their date of eligibility. (Individuals with an ORR eligibility date on or after May 5, 2025, are eligible for four months of RMA.) RMA provides the same health insurance coverage as Medicaid.

Medical Screening
From their date of eligibility, Cuban/Haitian Entrants may be eligible for a domestic medical screening examination funded by ORR. The screening supports client resettlement by identifying health conditions that threaten their well-being, providing vaccinations required for school and work, and referring them to primary care providers or specialists for ongoing health care. ORR recommends that medical screenings are completed soon after arrival in the U.S.

Services (Up to 5 years from ORR eligibility date)

Employment Assistance: Refugee Support Services
Cuban/Haitian Entrants may access the Refugee Support Services (RSS) program to receive employability services, available for up to five years from their date of eligibility. RSS helps provide employability services; job training and preparation; assistance with job search, placement, and retention; English language training; childcare; transportation; translation and interpreter services; and case management.

Specialized Programs
Some clients may be eligible for specialized programs such as health services, technical assistance for small business start-ups, financial savings, youth mentoring, or other targeted support programs.

Footnotes

¹ Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides DHS with discretion to parole an individual into the United States temporarily under certain conditions on a case-by-case basis.

² The U.S. Department of Justice conducts administrative court proceedings, called removal proceedings, to decide whether foreign-born individuals who are charged by DHS with violating immigration law should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief or protection from removal and be permitted to remain in the United States.

³For more information, please see ORR Policy Letter 16-01 at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/status-and-documentationrequirements-orr-refugee-resettlement-program#cuban.