No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009
PL 111-115 (H.R.4218), enacted 12/15/2009

123 STAT. 3029 
PUBLIC LAW 111–115—DEC. 15, 2009 
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 PAY-
MENTS 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. 
public institution that is a jail, prison, or other penal institution 
or correctional facility the purpose of which is to confine individ-
uals 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 adjust-
ments, 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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