Social Security Legislative Bulletin

Number: 111- 29
Date: December 22, 2009

On December 19, 2009, the Senate passed H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010, as amended, by a vote of 88-10. The House had previously agreed to the amended version of the bill. Accordingly, this latest action clears the legislation to the President.

Following are descriptions of provisions of interest to SSA.

Extension of SSI Eligibility for Certain Iraqi and Afghan Refugees

•  Would eliminate the 8-month time limit on SSI eligibility for certain Iraqi and Afghan refugees who have provided service to the United States . (The time-limited eligibility period for these individuals would be the current 7-year window (up to 9 years through September 30, 20111) applicable to other refugees.)

•  Would be effective upon enactment.

HHS Poverty Guidelines

•  Would require the poverty line for 2010, as calculated by the Department of Health and Human Services, to not be published before March 1, 2010. The 2009 poverty line would remain in effect until the March 1 publication date.

•  Would be effective upon enactment.

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1 Under the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act, the SSI eligibility period for refugees was extended to 9 years (or for a 3-year period from Oct. 2008 through Sept. 2011 for refugees pursuing U.S. citizenship). After Sept. 2011, the eligibility period reverts to 7 years.

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