Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Pedro Pierluisi, has introduced
proposed legislation into the United States Congress that looks to extend the
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programme to Puerto Rico, as well as to Guam,
the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
The SSI programme helps the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the
US, providing monthly cash assistance to blind, disabled or elderly individuals
who have limited or no income. Although SSI applies in all 50 US states, it
has never applied in Puerto Rico since it was established in the early 1970s.
Instead, the federal grant programme known as Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled
(AABD), which preceded the SSI programme, continues to apply on the Island.
The US Social Security Administration sends monthly SSI payments directly to
recipients, while the AABD programme is administered by the Puerto Rican government
with a limited block grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition, under the AABD programme, the Puerto Rican government must make
a 25% “matching” payment in order to receive its federal block grant.
Under SSI, by contrast, eligible beneficiaries in the US states receive payments
directly from the federal government, and there is no state matching requirement.
Prior to introducing the proposed legislation, the Supplemental Security Income
Equality Act, Pierluisi spoke on the floor of the US House of Representatives
about the bill, stating that, “of all the disparities that Puerto Rico
faces because of its territory status, perhaps none is as unprincipled or harmful
as its exclusion from SSI”.
“Puerto Rico’s annual block grant is about USD35m. By contrast,
the US’s poorest state, with almost one million fewer residents, received
over USD740m in SSI funding in 2010, roughly 21 times more than Puerto Rico,”
Pierluisi added.
He explained that SSI beneficiaries in the US states receive between USD400
and USD600 per month, while AABD beneficiaries in Puerto Rico receive an average
of just USD70 a month.
“Residents of Puerto Rico are American citizens. But, when it comes to
SSI, their citizenship is second class. I hope my colleagues on both sides of
the aisle will support this bill,” said Pierluisi during his speech to
the House of Representatives.
LAWANDTAX-NEWS.COM
