HIAS

Summary

For over a decade, HIAS has spearheaded a campaign to restore Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to thousands of elderly and disabled refugees, asylees, and some humanitarian immigrants who lost their benefits because they were not able to become U.S. citizens within seven years.

Recent Updates

On September 30th, 2011, the third year of a 2008 extension of SSI benefits expired, limiting refugees to seven years of benefits and leaving many without a critical lifeline for financial support. HIAS and other organizations are seeking ways to help refugees who are making a good-faith effort to become citizens or who will never be able to naturalize to retain their SSI benefits.

Learn More

• "This is a Sanctuary?" Jewish Daily Forward Op-Ed - September 26, 2011
• "Disabled Refugees Face Loss of Social Security Benefits," Miami Herald - August 30, 2010