Senate Bill To Extend SSI Refugee Eligibility

Legislation which would extend the eligibility period for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for refugees, asylees and other humanitarian immigrants has been introduced in the Senate.

“The Supplemental Security Income Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act,” S. 821, would extend eligibility from the current maximum of seven years to a total of nine years running from the date the individual first attains refugee or similar status. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) the Chair, and Ranking Minority member of the Senate Select Committee on Aging introduced S. 821 in the Senate, and Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Russell Feingold (D-WI) are also listed as cosponsors.

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, is expected sometime soon to introduce companion legislation in the House. Rep. McDermott has announced that his subcommittee will hold hearings on the issue next Thursday, March 22. Similar legislation was introduced in both houses in the last session, but this will be the first time that the issue will be the subject of a hearing. See NSCLC Washington Weekly Oct. 20, 2006.

The issue has also received some attention from litigation which has been filed on behalf of the affected population seeking more timely processing of naturalization applications. Kaplan v. Chertoff, 2:06-cv-05304ER (E.D. Pa. complaint filed Dec. 6, 2006). See NSCLC Washington Weekly Dec. 15, 2006.

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