H.R. 4814House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Supplemental Security Income Equality Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM UTC

The Supplemental Security Income Equality Act would extend the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to the U.S. territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It changes the law so residents of those territories can receive SSI benefits just like residents of the states, removes funding caps, and treats U.S. nationals the same as citizens. The bill also lets the Social Security Commissioner adjust program rules for each territory as needed.

Key Provisions

Amends the Social Security Act to define "state" for SSI purposes to include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
Removes the overall payment cap that currently limits SSI benefits to the territories, allowing full funding as in the states.
Treats U.S. nationals in the territories the same as U.S. citizens for eligibility and benefit calculations.
Expands the geographic definition of the United States in SSI statutes to explicitly list the territories and the District of Columbia.
Gives the Social Security Commissioner authority to waive or modify SSI requirements in the territories to better fit local needs.
Sets the changes to take effect on the first day of the federal fiscal year that begins at least one year after the law is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

July 29, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 29, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

July 29, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 29, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4814

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 29, 2025

Mr. Moylan (for himself, Ms. Plaskett, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Hernández, Ms. King-Hinds, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To extend the supplemental security income program to Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act.

Extension of the supplemental security income program to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa

(a)

In general

Section 303 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 (86 Stat. 1484) is amended by striking subsection (b).

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Definition of state

Section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)) is amended by striking the 5th sentence and inserting the following: Such term when used in title XVI includes Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa..

(2)

Elimination of limit on total payments to the territories

Section 1108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended—

(A)

in the section heading, by striking ; limitation on total payments;

(B)

by striking subsection (a); and

(C)

in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (2) and (4) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (4), respectively.

(3)

United States nationals treated the same as citizens

Section 1614(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(1)(B)) is amended—

(A)

in clause (i)(I), by inserting or national, after citizen;

(B)

in clause (i)(II), by adding ; or at the end; and

(C)

in clause (ii), by inserting or national after citizen.

(4)

Territories included in geographic meaning of the United States

Section 1614(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(e)) is amended by striking and the District of Columbia and inserting , the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

(c)

Waiver authority

The Commissioner of Social Security may waive or modify any statutory requirement relating to the provision of benefits under the Supplemental Security Income Program under title XVI of the Social Security Act in Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, to the extent that the Commissioner deems it necessary in order to adapt the program to the needs of the territory involved.

(d)

Effective date

This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st Federal fiscal year that begins 1 year or more after the date of the enactment of this Act.