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For Immediate Release
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| June 7, 2007 |
Doua Thor, SEARAC,
202/667-4690, doua@searac.org
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Southeast Asian Refugees Support Introduction of the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act (H.R. 2608)
Washington, DC—The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) is pleased that Congress is once again, taking initial steps to address the issue of the seven year cut off of supplemental security income (SSI) for elderly and disabled refugees. Today, Congressmen McDermott (WA-7) and Congressman Weller (IL-11) introduced The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act (H.R. 2608) which would extend the cut off of SSI for refugees from seven years to nine years.
Under current law, elderly and disabled refugees, asylees and humanitarian immigrants must successfully obtain their citizenship within seven years to continue receiving SSI. For many, the path to obtaining citizenship is extremely difficult and sometimes, impossible due to various barriers including advanced age, disability, and language barriers. Additionally, because of trauma that many in these populations have experienced, barriers to citizenship can also include wide ranging disabilities such as life threatening or serious illness and mental health issues. In many cases, obstacles also include increasing fees, backlogs and processing delays, background checks and fingerprinting--hold ups that are beyond the control of individuals.
For these very vulnerable populations, SSI provides the bare minimum--no more than $623 per month for an individual and $934 for a couple--for the most basic needs for survival such as food, clothing and shelter. With the seven year time limit, many refugees face destitution once they are no longer eligible for SSI.
"Many vulnerable refugee elders affected by the seven year cut off are individuals who have risked their lives, fighting alongside American soldiers in times of war, such as the Hmong and Montagnards. The extension of SSI for elderly and disabled refugees is a positive step forward in ensuring that our countries' most vulnerable populations, many of whom have been long time allies, do not have to endure unfair hardships of losing their SSI," states Doua Thor, Executive Director of SEARAC.
There is also an SSI extension bill (S.821) that Senators Kohl (WI) and Smith (OR) have introduced in the Senate.
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