Sponsors (6)
The bill extends federal SSI benefits and protections to low-income and disabled residents of U.S. territories—improving financial security and standardizing eligibility—while increasing federal costs and creating administrative and transitional implementation challenges.
Low-income residents and people with disabilities in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa would become eligible for federal SSI cash benefits and related protections, improving financial stability and access to federal supports.
U.S. nationals in the territories would face fewer administrative barriers because eligibility is standardized with citizens and the Social Security Commissioner is given flexibility to adapt rules to local conditions, which can enable a smoother, locally tailored rollout.
All U.S. taxpayers may face higher federal spending because extending SSI to the territories increases federal benefit outlays and will require additional appropriations or reallocation of funds.
Territorial and federal administrative systems may be strained by implementing SSI, creating increased coordination needs, compliance costs, and potential delays in rollout.
Some current territory-specific assistance recipients could experience program changes or overlap during transition, producing confusion or short-term disruptions in benefits for low-income residents.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Extends Supplemental Security Income eligibility and related statutory definitions to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa and treats U.S. nationals like citizens for SSI purposes.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by James Moylan · Last progress July 29, 2025
Extends access to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa by changing federal law to treat those territories as part of the geographic and residency definitions for SSI and by treating U.S. nationals like citizens for SSI eligibility. Gives the Social Security commissioner authority to waive or modify certain statutory rules so SSI can be adapted to each territory. The changes take effect on the first day of the first federal fiscal year beginning at least one year after enactment.