The Economic Security Unit of the Department of Social Services (DSS) is responsible for disbursing federal funds related to the resettlement of refugees in Connecticut. Refugees are assigned by the U.S. State Department to local affiliates of national voluntary resettlement agencies in Connecticut. DSS disburses federal refugee assistance program funds, administers refugee cash and medical assistance programs and monitors resettlement activity for individuals who qualify as refugees under international law. A refugee can request to become a legal permanent resident after one-year residence in the U.S. and can apply for U.S. citizenship five years after their date of entry to the U.S.
DSS Regional offices administer Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) to refugees for up to four months from the date they are eligible for Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) benefits and services. DSS also provides refugees with temporary family assistance/cash assistance, medical coverage and SNAP (food assistance) under those public assistance programs since refugees qualify as legal non-citizens.
The State contracts with the following agencies to provide resettlement services including case management, employment assistance, and additional supportive services to refugees:
- Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, (203) 336-0141, https://cirict.org/
- Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, (203) 562-2095, www.irisct.org
- Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, (203) 622-1881, jfsgreenwich.org
To learn how to apply for any of these benefits, please visit our page How to Apply.
For additional resources for refugees, please see the below websites:
- Refugee and Immigrant Health Program
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration - United States Department of State
- U.S. Immigration
- The UN Refugee Agency
The following are the total number of new refugee arrivals to Connecticut for the corresponding federal fiscal years (October 1 through September 30):
FFY 2009 351 FFY 2013 548 FFY 2017 452 FFY 2021 57
FFY 2010 507 FFY 2014 545 FFY 2018 156 FFY 2022 142
FFY 2011 447 FFY 2015 819 FFY 2019 142 FFY 2023 672
FFY 2012 436 FFY 2016 837 FFY 2020 62 FFY 2024 1032