What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
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.)
Action Timeline
2025-07-29
Introduced in House
2025-07-29
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
2025-07-29
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.4814 pass?
HR.4814 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.4814 do?
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 terri…
Who sponsored HR.4814?
HR.4814 was sponsored by James C. Moylan (R-Guam).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 4814 IH: Supplemental Security Income Equality Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-07-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4814 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2025 Mr. Moylan (for himself, Ms. Plaskett , Mrs. Radewagen , Mr. Hernández , Ms. King-Hinds , and Ms. Norton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To extend the supplemental security income program to Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act . 2. Extension of the supplemental security income program to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa (a) In general Section 303 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 (86 Stat. 1484) is amended by striking subsection (b). (b) Conforming amendments (1) Definition of state Section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1) ) is amended by striking the 5th sentence and inserting the following: Such term when used in title XVI includes Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. . (2) Elimination of limit on total payments to the territories Section 1108 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1308 ) is amended— (A) in the section heading, by striking ; limitation on total payments ; (B) by striking subsection (a); and (C) in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (2) and (4) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (4), respectively. (3) United States nationals treated the same as citizens Section 1614(a)(1)(B) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(1)(B) ) is amended— (A) in clause (i)(I), by inserting or national, after citizen ; (B) in clause (i)(II), by adding ; or at the end; and (C) in clause (ii), by inserting or national after citizen . (4) Territories included in geographic meaning of the United States Section 1614(e) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382c(e) ) is amended by striking and the District of Columbia and inserting , the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa . (c) Waiver authority The Commissioner of Social Security may waive or modify any statutory requirement relating to the provision of benefits under the Supplemental Security Income Program under title XVI of the Social Security Act in Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, to the extent that the Commissioner deems it necessary in order to adapt the program to the needs of the territory involved. (d) Effective date This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st Federal fiscal year that begins 1 year or more after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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