Protecting Benefits for Elderly Refugees and Refugees with Disabilities During COVID–19 Act of 2020

To amend section 402 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend the eligibility period for supplemental security income benefits for refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian immigrants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Benefits for Elderly Refugees and Refugees with Disabilities During COVID–19 Act of 2020 2. Extension of eligibility period for ssi benefits for certain recipients (a) In general Section 402(a)(2)(M) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(M) (1) in clause (i)(I), by inserting and the period beginning on January 31, 2020, and ending on September 30, 2021, fiscal years 2009 through 2011, (2) in clause (ii), by inserting and the period beginning on January 31, 2020, and ending on September 30, 2021, fiscal years 2009 through 2011 (b) Special rule in case of appealed naturalization application Section 402(a)(2)(M)(ii) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(M)(ii) (1) in the heading, by inserting , appealed, pending (2) by inserting or on appeal that is pending (3) by inserting , appealed, such application is pending (c) Conforming amendment Section 402(a)(2)(M) of such Act is amended, in the subparagraph heading, by striking through fiscal year 2011 (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 31, 2020. 3. Naturalization application fee waiver (a) In general Notwithstanding sections 286(m) and 344(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1356(m) 8 U.S.C. 1455(a) (1) filing an application for naturalization; (2) conducting a hearing on such application; or (3) the issuance of a certificate of naturalization upon being granted United States citizenship. (b) Applicant described An applicant is described in this section if the applicant— (1) is receiving payments under the supplemental security income program established under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 (2) is applying, or has applied, to become a naturalized citizen of the United States in accordance with section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1445

Summary: Protecting Benefits for Elderly Refugees and Refugees with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act of 2020 This bill extends the eligibility period for certain aliens to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The bill also waives naturalization fees for SSI recipients. Currently, certain aliens, such as refugees and victims of trafficking, are eligible to receive SSI benefits for a seven-year period. For such an alien whose eligibility expired after January 31, 2020, this bill extends that alien's eligibility to September 30, 2021. Furthermore, during the period from January 31, 2020, to September 30, 2021, such a qualifying alien's eligibility for SSI benefits shall not expire while the alien has (1) a pending naturalization application, (2) an application on appeal, or (3) an accepted application but the alien has not yet sworn in as a U.S. citizen.