SSI for Refugees

WHAT'S NEW

Holds Stall SSI Hotline Proceduce in U.S. Senate

Since SSI passed through the House, HIAS has been working to help pass similiar legislation in the U.S. Senate before the end of the 110th Congress. There have been a series of "holds" put on the legislation, most of which have been released after negotiations. There is one remaining "hold", or objection, to the legislation, which HIAS is working to have lifted.

Posted June 17, 2008

House Passes SSI Extension Bill

On July 11, 2007, the House of Representatives passed by voice vote HR 2608, the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act." In early June, Representative McDermott (D-WA) - chair of the Income Security subcommittee - and Representative Weller (R-IL) - ranking member of the Income Security subcommittee - introduced HR 2608.

The House bill is slightly different from the one introduced in the Senate by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Herbert Kohl (D-WI) in that, in addition to the two-year extension in eligibility for humanitarian immigrants and the reach-back provision to cover those who already lost their benefits, this bill also contains a provision that allows those humanitarian immigrants with a naturalization application pending with DHS to receive a 10th year of eligibility. To offset the cost of the SSI extension, the legislation would reduce federal tax refunds to collect unemployment insurance (UI) overpayments resulting from fraud. The bill sunsets at the end of FY2010.

Click here to read HIAS' press release lauding House passage of the SSI-Refugee bill.

Posted July 12, 2007

Take Action! The House acted to help elderly refugees by passing a stop-gap measure to provide immediate relief to thousands of refugees who have lost or are about to lose their SSI benefits. Now the Senate must follow suit and pass the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" in order for the President to sign it into law.

Urge your Senators to support passage of the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" now!

BACKGROUND

Thousands of elderly and disabled refugees, asylees, and other “humanitarian immigrants” are losing their subsistence benefits because they are unable to become citizens within seven years due to delays and other obstacles in the immigration system. In the mid-1990’s, Congress passed a law that limits elderly and disabled refugees’ eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to seven years, meaning they must become citizens within that time or they lose this critical assistance. Due to a variety of factors, including post-9/11 delays in naturalization processing, USCIS file mismanagement, and the historic cap on asylee adjustment, many elderly and disabled refugees have found it impossible to naturalize within seven years despite their best efforts. As the refugees grow older and more infirm many also find it increasingly difficult to pass the language and civics test.

Approximately 12,000 humanitarian immigrants have already lost their SSI benefits (and in some cases the Medicaid coverage accompanying SSI), and SSA projects that over 40,000 individuals will be cut off from SSI in the next 6 years due to application of the seven-year SSI time limit. Elderly Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union comprise a large number of those who have been cut off and stand to lose their SSI benefits in the years ahead.

HIAS Statements and Press Releases

Written Testimony of Maria Teverovsky Submitted to the Senate Special Committee on Aging for Hearing on “The Health and Welfare Needs of Elderly Refugees and Asylees in the United States” - December 5, 2007.

HIAS: Lauds House Passage of SSI Extension, July 12, 2007.

HIAS: 400 National, State, Local Organizations Urge Congress to Extend Benefits to Vulnerable Refugees, July 2, 2007.

Written Comments by Gideon Aronoff Submitted to the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, Committee on Ways and Means, for Hearing on "Assistance for Elderly and Disabled Refugees” – March 22, 2007.

HIAS Policy Resolutions

The Dire Consequences of Welfare Reform for Jewish Refugees, October 27, 2006

Community Statements and Sign-On Letters

Sign-on letter from refugee agencies to Senator Baucus urging passage of SSI Extension bill, November 28, 2007.

National sign-on letter to House urging passage of HR 2608, June 28, 2007.

Jewish Community Statement on an Extension of Supplemental Security Income Eligibility for Elderly and Disabled Refugees, March 11, 2005.

Additional Resources

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - "Loss of SSI Aid is Impoverishing Thousands of Refugees: Congress Could Prevent Further Hardship." By Zoe Neuberger, February 8, 2007.

Issues Policy Resolutions Action Alerts Advocacy Updates
Immigration Reform Immigration Services and Naturalization Refugees and Asylum SSI for Refugees Religious Workers	SSI for Refugees WHAT'S NEW Holds Stall SSI Hotline Proceduce in U.S. Senate Since SSI passed through the House, HIAS has been working to help pass similiar legislation in the U.S. Senate before the end of the 110th Congress. There have been a series of "holds" put on the legislation, most of which have been released after negotiations. There is one remaining "hold", or objection, to the legislation, which HIAS is working to have lifted. Posted June 17, 2008 House Passes SSI Extension Bill On July 11, 2007, the House of Representatives passed by voice vote HR 2608, the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act." In early June, Representative McDermott (D-WA) - chair of the Income Security subcommittee - and Representative Weller (R-IL) - ranking member of the Income Security subcommittee - introduced HR 2608. The House bill is slightly different from the one introduced in the Senate by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Herbert Kohl (D-WI) in that, in addition to the two-year extension in eligibility for humanitarian immigrants and the reach-back provision to cover those who already lost their benefits, this bill also contains a provision that allows those humanitarian immigrants with a naturalization application pending with DHS to receive a 10th year of eligibility. To offset the cost of the SSI extension, the legislation would reduce federal tax refunds to collect unemployment insurance (UI) overpayments resulting from fraud. The bill sunsets at the end of FY2010. Click here to read HIAS' press release lauding House passage of the SSI-Refugee bill. Posted July 12, 2007 Take Action! The House acted to help elderly refugees by passing a stop-gap measure to provide immediate relief to thousands of refugees who have lost or are about to lose their SSI benefits. Now the Senate must follow suit and pass the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" in order for the President to sign it into law. Urge your Senators to support passage of the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" now! BACKGROUND Thousands of elderly and disabled refugees, asylees, and other “humanitarian immigrants” are losing their subsistence benefits because they are unable to become citizens within seven years due to delays and other obstacles in the immigration system. In the mid-1990’s, Congress passed a law that limits elderly and disabled refugees’ eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to seven years, meaning they must become citizens within that time or they lose this critical assistance. Due to a variety of factors, including post-9/11 delays in naturalization processing, USCIS file mismanagement, and the historic cap on asylee adjustment, many elderly and disabled refugees have found it impossible to naturalize within seven years despite their best efforts. As the refugees grow older and more infirm many also find it increasingly difficult to pass the language and civics test. Approximately 12,000 humanitarian immigrants have already lost their SSI benefits (and in some cases the Medicaid coverage accompanying SSI), and SSA projects that over 40,000 individuals will be cut off from SSI in the next 6 years due to application of the seven-year SSI time limit. Elderly Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union comprise a large number of those who have been cut off and stand to lose their SSI benefits in the years ahead. HIAS Statements and Press Releases Written Testimony of Maria Teverovsky Submitted to the Senate Special Committee on Aging for Hearing on “The Health and Welfare Needs of Elderly Refugees and Asylees in the United States” - December 5, 2007. HIAS: Lauds House Passage of SSI Extension, July 12, 2007. HIAS: 400 National, State, Local Organizations Urge Congress to Extend Benefits to Vulnerable Refugees, July 2, 2007. Written Comments by Gideon Aronoff Submitted to the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, Committee on Ways and Means, for Hearing on "Assistance for Elderly and Disabled Refugees” – March 22, 2007. HIAS Policy Resolutions The Dire Consequences of Welfare Reform for Jewish Refugees, October 27, 2006 Community Statements and Sign-On Letters Sign-on letter from refugee agencies to Senator Baucus urging passage of SSI Extension bill, November 28, 2007. National sign-on letter to House urging passage of HR 2608, June 28, 2007. Jewish Community Statement on an Extension of Supplemental Security Income Eligibility for Elderly and Disabled Refugees, March 11, 2005. Additional Resources Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - "Loss of SSI Aid is Impoverishing Thousands of Refugees: Congress Could Prevent Further Hardship." By Zoe Neuberger, February 8, 2007.