SECTION 340:61-1-4. Repatriation Program (RP) services provisions

(a)   Temporary assistance. The RP defines temporary assistance as cash payments, medical care (including counseling), temporary or permanent housing, transportation, and other goods and services necessary for the health or welfare of the repatriate.

(1)   All funds are issued in the form of a loan and must be repaid to the United States Government.

(2)   The repatriate may request a waiver or deferral of repayment of funds expended on his or her behalf within 30 calendar days of receiving a demand for payment letter from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) or its contracted agency. The letter advises the repatriate who to contact to request the waiver or deferral of payment.

(b)   Cash assistance. The repatriate is eligible to receive a cash assistance loan equivalent to three months of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for the same family size as shown on Schedule IX of Appendix C-1, Maximum Income, Resource, and Payment Standards. The cash assistance is issued after the repatriate signs the repayment agreement.

(c)   Social services. Upon receipt of the information referral packet, the Adult and Family Services (AFS) refugee coordinator reviews the assessment information provided regarding the repatriate and his or her dependents to determine the repatriate's identified social service needs.

(1)   In addition to or instead of cash assistance, the assessment information may indicate the repatriate needs other types of temporary assistance.

(2)   The refugee coordinator and local county staff develop a tentative plan to meet the repatriate's social service needs prior to the repatriate's arrival. This plan is presented to the repatriate at the airport. The repatriate is free to accept or reject any part of the service plan. Refer to OAC 340:61-1-3 regarding minors and mentally incompetent adults.

(3)   The service plan includes helping the repatriate apply for all public assistance he or she appears eligible to receive including programs administered by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) and other local agencies. RP funds are not expended when the services are available free of charge.

(A)   Public assistance benefit programs administered by AFS include TANF, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits, Child Care Subsidy Program, and SoonerCare (Medicaid) medical benefits.

(B)   Depending on the repatriate's circumstances, he or she may also be eligible for services administered by other divisions within OKDHS including the Developmental Disability Services Division, Aging Services Division, and Oklahoma Child Support Services.

(C)   Public assistance available through other local agencies may include housing assistance, benefits from the Social Security Administration, food banks, help finding a job, transportation, clothing closets, or medical clinics.

(4)   The OKDHS staff person meeting the repatriate at the airport presents all available options to the repatriate prior to signing a repayment agreement. This allows the repatriate to make an informed decision about accepting an RP loan.

(d)   Medical assistance. When the repatriate needs immediate medical attention, the refugee coordinator locates a medical provider willing to treat the repatriate upon arrival. ORR reimburses the medical provider reasonable, allowable, and allocable expenses that are not covered by an outside source such as insurance or SoonerCare (Medicaid).

[Source: Added at 30 Ok Reg 1356, eff 7-1-13]