Supreme Court denies Puerto Rico residents SSI benefits

by JennaT

Community

(This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday, Apr. 21, 2022 Thursday, Apr. 21, 2022 at 10:47:55am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 28: The Guardian or Authority of Law, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, rests on the side of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. This week Seventh U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, will begin meeting with Senators as she seeks to be confirmed before the presidential election. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

Today the Supreme Court blocked an attempt to require certain Social Security benefits to be afforded to Puerto Rico residents.

The 8-1 decision ( Justice Sotomayor was the sole dissenting voice) maintains the status quo where Puerto Rico residents are prevented from receiving Supplemental Security Income for elderly, blind and disabled individuals, under a 1972 law that made U.S. residents eligible for the program, but not residents of US territories.

With the DOJ arguing on behalf of standing law for the Biden administration, the Supreme Court decided that Congress has “substantial discretion” to structure federal tax and benefit programs for residents of territories.

It was further noted that Congress may eventually decide to extend the SSI benefits to Puerto Rico as President Joe Biden and others have sought.

How this unfortunate decision for the residents of PR furthers, or impacts the conversations about the future of Puerto Rico remains to be seen.