The Application

(1) The Case Management Provider shall complete the refugee's MRRP application within the first five days following the date of the refugee's first contact with the Case Management Provider. The Case Management Provider shall mail or give to the applicant a written determination of eligibility within five working days of receiving all necessary verifications. (2) The period for which a refugee may be provided benefits and services under the Massachusetts Refugee Resettlement Program, including Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance, begins with the date the MRRP application is filed. See 121 CMR 2.615(2)(a). If the initial Refugee Cash Assistance benefit is issued within 31 days of the date of application, ORI shall be considered to have met its application time standards. (3) Emergency Payments. An emergency payment shall not exceed $100 or 50% of the anticipated amount of the refugee's next Refugee Cash Assistance payment, whichever is smaller. It shall be issued within one working day of the time the refugee establishes his or her eligibility for the payment. The refugee shall acknowledge in writing that the payment will be deducted from his or her next Refugee Cash Assistance payment. It shall be issued with the specific approval of ORI only when a refugee has urgent needs that cannot wait for the normal issuance of a check and only in the following circumstances: (a) A refugee's check has been lost or stolen; (b) A refugee has suddenly lost a job without notice and is eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance; or (c) An RCA eligible applicant, not receiving services under the Resettlement and Placement Program, has no other resources and requires immediate assistance before the next scheduled RCA pay date.