24 Jul BPC Action Applauds The Protecting Benefits for Elderly Refugees and Refugees with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act of 2020 in Immigration

The Protecting Benefits for Elderly Refugees and Refugees with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act of 2020 ensures that vulnerable elderly and disabled refugees aren’t inadvertently negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some elderly and disabled refugees who were legally permitted to relocate to the United States due to persecution in their home countries are eligible for supplemental security income (SSI) benefits for up to seven years as they wait for their applications for permanent status in the U.S. to be processed. Due to COVID-19, processing times for applications are greatly increasing, causing many of these applications to extend past the seven-year window, resulting in a termination of benefits. BPC Action applauds the effort of Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) to address this issue by extending the eligibility period for SSI benefits during this unprecedented crisis to ensure vulnerable populations get the assistance they need.