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I should have used the term "people who have been granted asylum" instead of the word "refugees".I think the key bit is "granted asylum". When people show up, they aren't granted asylum. They apply for it, and an immigration court adjudicates. So, from what we've sussed-out here, until you're granted asylum you don't get government benefits (federal...individual states may have different laws).
The fed rules are a bit confusing. You have to be here already, and not be in the immigration court system. It appears to help if you have access to the internet to find this stuff out, and get links to the forms.
uscis.gov - Refugees and asylum
