SSA Issues Guidance for SSI Refugee Extension
July 1, 2009
On September 30, 2008, then President Bush signed the “SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act” (“Extension Act,” Public Law 110-328). The legislation temporarily extends the eligibility of elderly and disabled refugees, asylees and various other groups of humanitarian based immigrants for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from seven years to nine years. Read More

SSI Eligibility for Refugees and Other Humanitarian Based Immigrants
Extended from Seven to Nine Years
October 1, 2008
Under the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act", H.R. 2608, the eligibility of refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking and other classifications of humanitarian immigrants for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits is now nine years rather than seven.  Read More

SSI Immigrant Struggle Continues
July 1, 2008
Many recent editions of this newsletter have chronicled the problems encountered by elderly and disabled immigrants who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) solely because of their immigration status. Read More

USCIS to Expedite the Naturalization and Adjustment Applications of SSI Recipients
February 1, 2008
A settlement has been reached in the case of Schmul Kaplan, et al., v. Michael Chertoff, filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which requires the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to expedite the applications of refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian based immigrants for permanent residence or naturalization if the applicants are facing the cut-off of their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits because they have come to the end of their period of SSI eligibility. Read More

The First Department Hands Elderly and Disabled Refugees a Welcome Victory
February 1, 2008
A better birthday surprise can hardly be imagined for an elderly refugee who fled anti-Semitism in Russia in the late 1990's and recently celebrated his 101st birthday than a ruling from the First Department that he and all other elderly and disabled, lawfully residing immigrants who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) solely because of their immigration status must be provided with public assistance by New York State at the SSI related standard of need set out in Social Services Law §209.2, rather than assistance at the significantly lower welfare standard. Read More

SSI Immigrant Bill Passes House
July 1, 2007
On July 11, 2007, H.R. 2608 was passed in the House of Representatives by a voice vote. Introduced by Congressmen McDermott and Walker, this bill would extend the period of SSI eligibility from seven to nine years for elderly and disabled refugees. Read More

Refugees Continue to Lose SSI Benefits
April 1, 2007
A recent article published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities presents a compelling argument for why Social Security should eliminate its draconian policy preventing refugees from receiving benefits beyond seven years. Read More

Refugees Continue to Lose SSI Benefits
March 1, 2007
Prior editions of this newsletter have included articles on the devastating problems faced by refugees who arrived in the United States after August 22, 1996, and whose SSI benefits are being terminated under SSI’s seven-year time limit. Read More

Immigrants Continue to Face SSI/DHS Quagmires
January 1, 2007
The infamous Welfare Reform Act, technically the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA or Public Law 104-193), made significant changes, among other things, to the eligibility of non-citizens for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Read More

Elderly and Disabled Immigrants Sue for Equal Benefits
March 1, 2005
Barbara Weiner of the Greater Upstate Law Project, Inc., along with attorneys from the Legal Aid Society of New York and the New York Legal Assistance Group, recently filed suit (Khrapunskiy, et al. v. Doar) on behalf of a class of elderly, blind and disabled, lawfully residing, immigrants who, because of their immigration status, receive assistance at less than the “standard of need” set by the New York State Legislature in Social Services Law § 209 (“SSL”) for the elderly, blind and disabled. This is a separate, and higher, income standard than the welfare standard for the non-disabled and non-elderly poor. Read More