Action Memo: AABD Cash for Refugees and Other Noncitizens Ineligible for SSI Due to Federal Time Limit

Summary:

Eligibility for SSI benefits is limited to a period of 7 years for certain non-citizens unless they become naturalized citizens. Non-citizens subject to the 7-year limit include persons who entered the United States, or who are now, in one of the following immigration classifications: refugees, asylees, Amerasians, Cuban-Haitians, victims of trafficking, and persons with deportation withheld.
A 2-year extension to this current 7-year limit passed by the federal government in 2008, expires on September 30, 2010. Noncitizens who entered the U.S., or who are now, in one of the above immigration classifications, and who have been here between 7 and 9 years will be terminated from SSI effective September 30, 2010. Beginning October 1, 2010, such persons will be terminated from SSI when their 7 years of eligibility expire. In addition, they will be denied SSI benefits if they apply for SSI after they have already been here for 7 years or more.
Illinois provides AABD Cash (flat payment of $500 per month) to this entire group of noncitizens who are terminated from SSI, or who are denied SSI because of the 7-year time limit, including those who are terminated from SSI when the 2-year extension to the 7-year limit expires on September 30, 2010.
Many of these noncitizens who have been here between 7 and 9 years, and are being terminated from SSI, may be applying at FCRCs for AABD benefits.
We will be revising the manual to add victims of trafficking to the list of persons who may qualify for the $500 AABD allowance when SSI eligibility is terminated or denied.