Document: 439 U.S. 170 99 S.Ct. 471 58 L.Ed.2d 435 Joseph A. CALIFANO, Jr., Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Appellant,v.Grace AZNAVORIAN, etc. Grace etc., Appellant, v. Welfare. Nos. 77-991, 77-5999. Argued Nov. 6, 1978. Decided Dec. 11, Syllabus Section 1611(f) the Social Security Act, which provides that no benefits under Supplemental Income (SSI) program for needy aged, blind, disabled are to be paid any month recipient spends entirely outside United States, held constitutional as having a rational basis not impose an impermissible burden on freedom international travel in violation Fifth Amendment. That section, merely has incidental effect (Kent Dulles, 357 116, 78 1113, 2 1204; Aptheker State, 378 500, 84 1659, 12 992, Zemel Rusk, 381 1, 85 1271, 14 179, distinguished), clearly effectuates basic congressional decision limit SSI payments residents States. Moreover, § may represent Congress' simply those who need them While these justifications legislation compelling, its constitutionality, contrast standard applied laws penalize right interstate travel, does depend compelling justifications. Pp. 174-178. D.C., 440 F.Supp. 788, reversed. Peter Buscemi, Washington, D. C., Califano, pro hac vice, by special leave Court. Schey, Los Angeles, Cal., Aznavorian. Mr. Justice STEWART delivered opinion 1 In 1972 Congress enacted aid disabled. The creating primary issue present litigation is whether this restriction constitutionally asserted travel. * Act Amendments repealed Titles I, X, XIV had provided federal state programs amendments replaced with new Title XVI, program. 86 Stat. 1465, 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. This administered Federal Government through Administration. To eligible receive program, person must resident 1382c(a)(1)(B); either over 65 years old or meet statutory definitions blindness disability, 1382c(a); poor, 1382a (income), 1382b (resources). 3 amended 1972, shall "for during all such individual States . ." section further 4 "after been period 30 consecutive days, he treated remaining until days."1 5 Thus, if were country May return July 10, would his entire payment May. He would, however, lose June July. have actually away June, and, because gone more than remained August 9. automatically resume. 6 Aznavorian American citizen. 1974 she was California benefits. On 21, 1974, left traveled Guadalajara, Mexico. Because unexpected illness, Mexico September 1974. Accordingly, did September. 7 pursued her administrative remedies without success. She then filed suit District Court Southern California, seeking judicial review Secretary's decision.2 Asserting suspension denied due process, equal protection, guaranteed Amendment, sought declaratory relief visit Mexico.3 moved certification plaintiff class including persons summary judgment. 8 first considered motion certification. It concluded action barred limited presented unsuccessful claims Secretary. requirements Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. 23 otherwise satisfied, it certified class.4 792-794. 9 court granted judgment class. "a right," statute bear fair substantial relationship fact governmental purposes seeks achieve." Id., at 795, 797. limitation sufficiently related Government's interest making only bona fide valid. 10 ordered provide notice members receiving time order except 1611(f). also pay whose suspended 1611(f), but continued actual still within meaning believed violate sovereign immunity F.Supp., 802-803. 11 appealed directly Court, cross-appeal 28 1252. We noted probable jurisdiction both appeals consolidated cases. 921, 98 1482, 55 514. II raises two questions appeal.5 First, contends Second, urges event Court's award retroactive monetary immunity. Aznavorian's takes position erred awarding date order. we conclude Constitution, there occasion consider remedial issues raised appeal cross-appeal. 13 welfare legislation, very nature, involves drawing lines among categories people, necessarily sometimes arbitrary. consistently upheld constitutionality classifications where existed choice. "The principle govern assessment challenge law providing well established. enacting kind government deny protection 'merely made imperfect. If classification some "reasonable basis," offend Constitution "is mathematical nicety practice results inequality." ' Dandridge Williams, 397 471, 485, 90 1153, 1161, 25 491. 15 "To sure, judged 'is toothless one,' Mathews Lucas, 427 495, 510, 96 2755, 2764, 49 651. But challenged entitled strong presumption constitutionality." de Castro, 429 181, 185, 97 431, 434, 50 389. 16 See, e. g., Califano Jobst, 434 47, 95, 54 228; Goldfarb, 430 199, 210, 1021, 1028, 51 270; Diaz, 426 67, 1883, 48 478; Weinberger Salfi, 422 749, 95 2457, 45 522; Jefferson Hackney, 406 535, 92 1724, 32 285; Richardson Belcher, 404 78, 254, 231. 17 argues that, even though valid against process attack, stringent appraisal provision limits concluded, fortified readily withstands attack from quarter well. 18 abroad found recognition least three decisions Kent 1204, State refused passport links leftwing political groups. given discretion passports grounds. Although holding one construction, recognized "basic our scheme values" "important aspect citizen's 'liberty.' " 126, 127, S.Ct., 1118, 1119. dealt Subversive Activities Control 785, criminal offense member Communist Party apply passport. again protected legislated too broadly restricting liberty party. validate Cuba. pointed out "the cannot inhibited mean can circumstances inhibited." 14, 1279. 19 basically equivalent 100 years. Edwards 314 160, 62 164, L.Ed. 119; Twining New Jersey, 211 97, 29 18, 53 97; Williams Fears, 179 270, 274, 21 128, 129, 186; Crandall Nevada, Wall. 35, 43-44, 744; Passenger Cases, How. 283, 492, 702 (Taney, C. J., dissenting). often crucial difference between internationally 20 virtually unqualified, Guest, 383 745, 757-758, 1170, 1177-1178, 239 (1966); Griffin Breckenridge, 403 88, 105-106, 91 1790, 1799-1800, 338 (1971). By 'right' 'liberty' Due Process Clause As 'right,' held, regulated bounds process." (Citations omitted.) Torres, n. 906, 908, 65. See Shapiro Thompson, 394 618, 643 89 1322, 1336, 22 600 (concurring opinion). said infringe same durational residency imposed Memorial Hospital Maricopa County, 415 250, 254-262, 94 1076, 1080-1084, 39 306; Dunn Blumstein, 405 330, 338-342, 995, 1001-1003, 31 274; supra, U.S., 634, 1331. Unlike cases involving case liberty, similar supra. There, another "penalized" beneficiaries upon their marriage. provisions "may impact secondary beneficiary's desire marry, make suitors less welcome others," 58, 101, nonetheless validity legislation.6 here nearly so direct occurred Kent, Aptheker, availability passports. grounds tension First withdraws benefit shortly after extended absence country. Unless wholly irrational, spite 24 question 1614(a)(1)(B) amended, 1382c(a)(1)(B). issue, decision. Certainly, longer country, greater possibility resident. 30-day arbitrary be. additional once days more, will spent adds assurance genuine. argues. decided needs responds might vary dramatically foreign countries. Administration hard pressed monitor continuing eligibility And, indeed, wanted increase likelihood funds inside 26 These not, perhaps, compelling. enough rationally based. 487, 1162, meets test. 27 ordered. MARSHALL BRENNAN, concurring result. concur conclusion constitutional. do understand imply fundamental suspect subject lesser traditional sustain "arbitrary," ante, 174, long they "wholly irrational," 177, inconsistent settled "standard [welfare] one.' 389 (1976), quoting 651 (1976). reads full: "Notwithstanding other title, title (and spouse respect States). For preceding sentence, days." 1468, 1382(f). Jurisdiction based Act: §§ 205(g) 1631(c)(3), 405(g) 1383(c)(3). Her original complaint requested injunctive three-judge convened. later withdrawn along request injunction. defined as: "All individuals Income, denied, suspended, terminated, interrupted pursuant initial written determination, administration reconsideration, hearing, Appeals Council review, solely 1382(f) regulations promulgated thereunder, 26, 1975 entry Order." jurisdictional statement claimed could maintained Act. Norton Mathews, 524, 2771, 672. abandoning position, chosen argue case. pending Elliott, No. 77-1511, cert. granted, 816, 75, 106. conceded Aznavorian, individual, met 205(g). monetary-benefits Jobst case, burdened marry invalid Term Zablocki Redhail, 374, 673, 618.

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