Bill > HR256

This bill, the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act, aims to extend the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. Currently, these U.S. territories are excluded from the SSI program, which provides monthly payments to eligible low-income individuals who are elderly, blind, or have a disability. The bill amends the Social Security Act to include these territories in the definition of "State" for the purposes of the SSI program, eliminating the limit on total payments to the territories, and treating U.S. nationals the same as citizens for eligibility purposes. The Commissioner of Social Security is also granted the authority to waive or modify any statutory requirements to adapt the program to the specific needs of the territories. The amendments made by this bill would take effect one year or more after the date of the bill's enactment.