Referrals for Refugee Clients in Chester County
I. Social Security
The refugees should apply for social security as soon as possible after they
arrive because all other social services depend on their having proof that
they have applied for social security.
West Chester Office
330 W. Market Street
West Chester, PA 19382
Contact: 1-800-772- 1213
No Appointments necessary Clients need to bring:
· Original I-94 (clients have this in IOM bag)
· LCFS referral letter (given to client at orientation)
· Completed copy of the SS application (given to client at orientation)
· SS Memo from September 1997 (given to client at orientation)
· ORR State Letter (given to client at orientation)
BEFORE LEAVING THE SS OFFICE CLIENTS NEED TO GET A LETTER/RECEIPT AS PROOF THAT THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY You may have to explain the reason for receipt.
II. County Assistance
for residents of Chester County County
100 James Buchanan Drice
Thorndale, PA 19372
Secretary: (610) 466 1155
Supervisors: Mr. Oyola (610) 466 1037
Ms. Nieves (610) 466 1035
Walk Ins ONLY NO APPOINTMENTS
Clients need to bring the following documents:
· Completed Application for Benefits form marked “Refugee please Expedite” The long application is for cash, health benefits and food stamps. If the client is on Matching Grant, the short application is used. Mark it “Refugee, please Expedite”.
· LCFS referral letter (yellow paper if client is on Matching Grant)
· Proof of residency (a letter or bill in the legal resident’s name with a second letter telling that the clients are living with that person.
· I-94
· Letter/receipt Proof of application for SS
III. Health Centers for clients in Chester County
Community Volunteers in Medicine (they do physicals and dental)
300 B Lawrence Drive
West Chester, PA 19380
Contact: (610) 836 5990
Coatesville Clinic
1029 E. Lincoln High
Coatesville, PA 19380
Contact: (610) 384 5899
Immunizations for Children
Chester County Government Services Center
601 Westtown Rd. Suite 180
West Chester, PA
Contact: (610) 344 6252
Walk In NO appointment needed
Hours T& TH 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
W 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Make the Appointment for the Physical or Dental check up as soon as possible. When the client applies for County Assistance, s/he is also applying for a temporary ACCESS card, which will come in the mail in a few days. The ACCESS card is good until the client’s HMO gets entered into the system. At the time of the appointment at County Assistance, the case worker will ask the client to choose an HMO. The client must choose an HMO which is convenient, otherwise the HMO will be assigned. The adults must go to the health clinic for a physical and for any follow up on physical problems. The children will need inoculations before registering for school.
When the client gets the ACCESS card in the mail, s/he must go to the appointment at the health clinic right away in order to meet the 30-day requirement for having a physical. Also the ACCESS card will no longer be valid, once the client has gotten assigned to an HMO.
The client must take:
· The health referral letter from LCFS (client gets this at orientation)
· The health screening protocol letter from LCFS (client gets this at orientation)
· The ACCESS card
· Personal health records and history in the IOM bag.
IV. School Registration
The child must be accompanied by the parent and needs to bring:
· Proof of Age : form I-94 (client receives this on entering US)
· Proof of residency such as a letter or a utility bill to the legal resident. If the family is living in an apartment, they must bring additional documents. See Registration Requirements Packet
· A referral letter from LCFS (client gets this at orientation)
· Immunization records, especially PPD test results and chest x-rays
· Completed school application form
V. ESL and Russian speakers/translators
Russian speaking caseworker: Lena Ivanenko (215) 747 7500 x213
ESL Coordinator: Todd Miller (215) 747 7500 x 257