I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4176 
To amend title XVI of the Social Security Act to clarify that the value 
of certain funeral and burial arrangements are not to be considered 
available resources under the supplemental security income program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 8, 2012 
Mr. SOUTHERLAND introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend title XVI of the Social Security Act to clarify 
that the value of certain funeral and burial arrangements 
are not to be considered available resources under the 
supplemental security income program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CERTAIN FUNERAL AND BURIAL ARRANGE-
MENTS NOT CONSIDERED RESOURCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1613(d) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1382b(d)) is amended— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:24 Mar 08, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4176.IH
H4176
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing a trust or arrangement described in paragraph 
(5)’’ after ‘‘irrevocable arrangement’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) If— 
‘‘(A) an individual or the individual’s spouse en-
ters into an irrevocable contract with a provider of 
funeral goods and services for a funeral; and 
‘‘(B) the individual or the individual’s spouse 
funds the contract by— 
‘‘(i) prepaying for the goods and services 
and the funeral provider places the funds in a 
trust; 
‘‘(ii) establishing an irrevocable trust fully 
funding the goods and services and the funeral 
provider is the named beneficiary of the trust; 
or 
‘‘(iii) purchasing a life insurance policy 
that provides benefits to pay for the goods and 
services and irrevocably assigning such benefits 
to— 
‘‘(I) the funeral provider; or 
‘‘(II) an irrevocable trust fully fund-
ing the goods and services and the funeral 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:24 Mar 08, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4176.IH
H4176
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
provider is the named beneficiary of the 
trust, 
then the irrevocable contract and the funding arrangement 
for the irrevocable contract shall not be considered a re-
source available to the individual or the individual’s 
spouse.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1613(e)(3)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382b(e)(3)(B)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘In the case of an irrevocable trust 
established by an individual, if there are any cir-
cumstances under which payment from the trust’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Except as provided in subsection (d)(5)(B)(ii), if 
there are any circumstances under which payment from 
an irrevocable trust established by an individual’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to payments for supplemental secu-
rity income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security 
Act for months beginning on or after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:24 Mar 08, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4176.IH
H4176
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS