WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-MD, today introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide a two-year extension of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for refugees, asylees and certain other humanitarian immigrants. Under current law, refugees lose their SSI eligibility after they have lived in the United States for seven years, unless they become citizens. In many cases, SSI is the sole source of income for these elderly and disabled refugees. U.S. Reps. Amo Houghton, R-NY, Sander Levin, D-MI, Phil English, R-PA, and Nancy Johnson, R-CT, joined the Congressman in sponsoring the legislation.

"Having fled persecution, many refugees come to this country with little more than the clothes on their backs. This bill would extend assistance to those refugees who are too elderly or too disabled to work. It continues our nation’s tradition of extending a helping hand to those most in need," declared Rep. Cardin.

The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act, HR4035 would extend SSI eligibility for two years for refugees and other qualified humanitarian immigrants, including those who had their SSI benefits cut off in the recent past. According to data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), up to 36,000 refugees and other humanitarian immigrants in the United States could reach the current seven-year cut off for SSI by the end of 2007. SSA assumes only about 40% of these individuals will become citizens before hitting the time limit, which was established by the 1996 welfare law. (Nearly all other non-refugee immigrants who came to the U.S. after the enactment of the 1996 welfare law are completely barred from receiving SSI unless they become citizens.)

SSI benefits are paid to low-income elderly and disabled individuals, with monthly benefits equaling $564 per individual and $846 per couple. Some individuals gain access to Medicaid solely through their SSI eligibility (meaning some refugees hitting the SSI time limit also will lose Medicaid coverage).

A primary barrier to citizenship within the seven-year SSI time limit for refugees is lengthy delays in processing of citizenship applications by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (An immigrant must live in the United States for at least five years before even applying for citizenship.) Other barriers to citizenship, especially for elderly refugees, include a lengthy application, an in-person interview, a test of English proficiency and civic knowledge, and a $250 fee.

President Bush’s FY 2005 budget proposal also recommends an SSI extension for refugees, which would be for one year rather than two years.

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