Supplemental Security Income Equality Act
Rep. Moylan Introduces the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act for U.S. Territories
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by the House Committee on Ways and Means. No further actions are scheduled at this time. It is considered active but is not moving quickly.
Legislative Progress
Even though delegates from both parties support this, bills to give territories more money often fail because those delegates cannot vote on the final bill in the House.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Programs
The SSI program, administered by the Social Security Administration, would permanently expand to cover eligible residents of four U.S. territories. This is a structural expansion of the federal safety net, adding potentially hundreds of thousands of new beneficiaries to the program who are aged, blind, or disabled with limited income. While SSI is distinct from Social Security retirement benefits, it is a core program under the Social Security Act.
“Such term when used in title XVI includes Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.”
Disabilities
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
5 articlesDelegates reintroduce SSI Equality Act to expand benefits to all islands
On July 29, 2025, Congressional representatives of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa reintroduced the bipartisan Supplemental Security Income Equality Act. The bill seeks to end the exclusion of these territories from the federal SSI program.
Territorial Delegates Reintroduce SSI Equality Act
The bill, H.R. 4814, would extend the SSI program to Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. It aims to correct a disparity where residents of these territories are denied benefits available to those in the 50 states and the Northern Mariana Islands.
An Overview of Puerto Rico’s Political Status and Future
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (D-PR) noted that congressional representatives are rallying behind the SSI Equality Act to award benefits to U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico and three other territories, highlighting that geography currently determines access to this safety net.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Supplemental Security Income Equality Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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