Benefits for Non-Citizens

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) CAPI provides monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for the Social Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) program solely due to their immigration status. 

CAPI participants may be eligible for Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services and CalFresh. Participants must file for each benefit separately.

An individual may be eligible for CAPI if they meet all of the following conditions:

• Are a non-citizen and meet the immigration status criteria in effect for SSI/SSP as of August 21, 1996. 
• Are 65 or over, blind or disabled.
• Are ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to their immigration status. 
• Must reside in California.
• Their income must be less than the CAPI standards.
• Their resources must be below the allowable limits of $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.
• They must successfully complete the application process.

The CAPI application is not currently available on BenefitsCal. You may apply for this program in person, by mail or fax.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) 

RCA is a cash assistance program for refugees who are not eligible for any other cash aid.  RCA also includes employment and other social services to assist a refugee in becoming self-sufficient. The population that could be eligible for the RCA encompasses all of the following groups: 

• Refugees, Asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, Afghan and Ukrainian Parolees, Amerasians, and Certified Victims of human trafficking.

RCA is available for up to 12 months from date of admission to the U.S. in qualifying status, date of final grant of asylum or date of certification by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) as Victim of Trafficking. The Cuban and Haitian Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA) is a 12 month, cash assistance program for qualified Cuban and Haitian who have a current or expired parole, who are in pending removal proceedings, or who have a pending application for asylum are Cuban/Haitian Entrants and thus are eligible for ORR benefits and services, same as a refugee. 

Victims of human trafficking may be eligible for additional services before they have a certification by the Office of Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) as Victim of Trafficking.

Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) 

TCVAP provides eligible noncitizen victims of a severe form of human trafficking, domestic violence, or other serious crime, with services such as cash assistance, food benefits, employment, and social services.

The cash aid application for RCA and TCVAP is the same as the CalWORKs application. Individuals applying for RCA or TCVAP who have minor children must first be evaluated for eligibility for CalWORKs. Individuals who do not have minor children or who have minor children but do not qualify for CalWORKs will be evaluated for RCA or TCVAP.