House Bill Would Extend SSI Eligibility for Refugees

A new House bill would extend the current seven-year time limit on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility for refugees, asylees and other humanitarian immigrants.

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House this month to extend the current seven-year time limit on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility for refugees, asylees and other humanitarian immigrants. The bill, H.R. 2608, the “SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act,” would extend the eligibility period to nine years and would provide an additional two years of eligibility for those who have already lost their SSI benefits upon reaching the end of their seven-year time limit. A similar bill, S. 821, was introduced in the Senate in March. See related article (from NSCLC Washington Weekly, March 16, 2007).

While similar proposed legislation in past years has gone nowhere, the prospects this year look more promising. Although legislation was not introduced in the House until this month, the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support held a hearing in March that produced some fairly compelling testimony. See related article (from NSCLC Washington Weekly, March 23, 2007).

Subcommittee Chair Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), and the Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL), are co-sponsors of the bill. The measure is expected to be marked up in the full Ways and Means Committee next week.

For further information, contact Gerald McIntyre in the NSCLC Los Angeles office.