Bill Summary
This bill, titled the "Protecting Benefits for Elderly Refugees and Refugees with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act of 2020," aims to amend a section of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. The amendment would extend the eligibility period for supplemental security income benefits for certain humanitarian immigrants, such as refugees and asylees, from January 31, 2020 through September 30, 2021. Additionally, the bill includes a provision for a fee waiver for naturalization applications for individuals receiving supplemental security income and applying for citizenship. This bill would go into effect on January 31, 2020.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation would extend the eligibility period for SSI benefits for certain refugees and immigrants, providing financial support for individuals who may have difficulty finding work due to their status.
2. The legislation would waive the naturalization application fee for individuals receiving supplemental security income, making the process of becoming a citizen more accessible and affordable.
3. The legislation would affect individuals with pending naturalization applications, allowing them to continue receiving SSI benefits during the lengthy naturalization process without losing their eligibility.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4307 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4307
To amend section 402 of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend the eligibility period
for supplemental security income benefits for refugees, asylees, and
certain other humanitarian immigrants, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 23, 2020
Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 402 of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend the eligibility period
for supplemental security income benefits for refugees, asylees, and
certain other humanitarian immigrants, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Benefits for Elderly
Refugees and Refugees with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR SSI BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN
RECIPIENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 402(a)(2)(M) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8
U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(M)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i)(I), by inserting ``and the period
beginning on January 31, 2020, and ending on September 30,
2021,'' after ``fiscal years 2009 through 2011,''; and
(2) in clause (ii), by inserting ``and the period beginning
on January 31, 2020, and ending on September 30, 2021,'' after
``fiscal years 2009 through 2011''.
(b) Special Rule in Case of Appealed Naturalization Application.--
Section 402(a)(2)(M)(ii) of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(M)(ii)), as
amended by subsection (a)(2), is amended--
(1) in the heading, by inserting ``, appealed,'' after
``pending'';
(2) by inserting ``or on appeal'' after ``that is
pending''; and
(3) by inserting ``, appealed,'' after ``such application
is pending''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 402(a)(2)(M) of such Act is
amended, in the subparagraph heading, by striking ``through fiscal year
2011''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on January 31, 2020.
SEC. 3. NATURALIZATION APPLICATION FEE WAIVER.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding sections 286(m) and 344(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(m) and 8 U.S.C.
1455(a)), no fee shall be charged or collected from an applicant
described in subsection (b) in conjunction with--
(1) filing an application for naturalization;
(2) conducting a hearing on such application; or
(3) the issuance of a certificate of naturalization upon
being granted United States citizenship.
(b) Applicant Described.--An applicant is described in this section
if the applicant--
(1) is receiving payments under the supplemental security
income program established under title XVI of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); and
(2) is applying, or has applied, to become a naturalized
citizen of the United States in accordance with section 334 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1445).
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