PUBLIC LAW 111–115—DEC. 15, 2009 123 STAT. 3029 

Public Law 111–115 

111th Congress 

An Act 

To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to prohibit retroactive 

payments to individuals during periods for which such individuals are prisoners, 

fugitive felons, or probation or parole violators. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No Social Security Benefits 

for Prisoners Act of 2009’’. 

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF RETROACTIVE TITLE II AND TITLE XVI PAYMENTS TO PRISONERS, FUGITIVE FELONS, AND PROBATION 

OR PAROLE VIOLATORS. 

(a) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE II.—Section 204(a)(1)(B) of the Social 

Security Act (42 U.S.C. 404(a)(1)(B)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘(B) With’’ and inserting ‘‘(B)(i) Subject 

to clause (ii), with’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(ii) No payment shall be made under this subparagraph 

to any person during any period for which monthly insurance 

benefits of such person— 

‘‘(I) are subject to nonpayment by reason of section 

202(x)(1), or 

‘‘(II) in the case of a person whose monthly insurance 

benefits have terminated for a reason other than death, 

would be subject to nonpayment by reason of section 

202(x)(1) but for the termination of such benefits, 

until section 202(x)(1) no longer applies, or would no longer 

apply in the case of benefits that have terminated. 

‘‘(iii) Nothing in clause (ii) shall be construed to limit 

the Commissioner’s authority to withhold amounts, make 

adjustments, or recover amounts due under this title, title 

VIII or title XVI that would be deducted from a payment 

that would otherwise be payable to such person but for such 

clause.’’. 

(b) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE XVI.—Section 1631(b) of such Act 

(42 U.S.C. 1383(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following 

new paragraph: 

‘‘(7)(A) In the case of payment of less than the correct amount 

of benefits to or on behalf of any individual, no payment shall 

be made to such individual pursuant to this subsection during 

any period for which such individual— 

‘‘(i) is not an eligible individual or eligible spouse under 

section 1611(e)(1) because such individual is an inmate of a 

42 USC 1305 

note. 

No Social 

Security Benefits 

for Prisoners Act 

of 2009. 

Dec. 15, 2009 

[H.R. 4218] 


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123 STAT. 3030 PUBLIC LAW 111–115—DEC. 15, 2009 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4218: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 155 (2009): 

Dec. 8, considered and passed House. 

Dec. 10, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

public institution that is a jail, prison, or other penal institution 

or correctional facility the purpose of which is to confine individuals as described in clause (ii) or (iii) of section 202(x)(1)(A), 

or 

‘‘(ii) is not an eligible individual or eligible spouse under 

section 1611(e)(4), 

until such person is no longer considered an ineligible individual 

or ineligible spouse under section 1611(e)(1) or 1611(e)(4). 

‘‘(B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to limit 

the Commissioner’s authority to withhold amounts, make adjustments, or recover amounts due under this title, title II, or title 

VIII that would be deducted from a payment that would otherwise 

be payable to such individual but for such subparagraph.’’. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall be effective for payments that would otherwise be made on 

or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Approved December 15, 2009. 

42 USC 404 note. 


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