Supplemental Security Income Equality Act
This bill extends Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to eligible residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. SSI is a federal assistance program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources meet basic needs. Under current law, residents of these territories are excluded from the program.
Under the bill, the Social Security Administration may waive or modify statutory requirements relating to the provision of benefits as necessary to adapt the SSI program to each territory.
The bill also eliminates a cap on payments to these territories from certain programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other grants to support aid for older individuals, blind individuals, and individuals with disabilities.
Finally, the bill specifies that non-citizen U.S. nationals are eligible for SSI benefits under the same conditions as U.S. citizens. (Individuals born in American Samoa are nationals, but not citizens, of the United States.)