Generally, the system will send an automated award notice with the paragraphs shown
below. The alien categories are divided in two paragraphs, 1201 and 1202, because
of the length.
CAPTION 1981: YOUR SSI ELIGIBILITY AS AN ALIEN
Caption 1981 and the following paragraphs come after caption 1907, Your Payments Are
Based On These Facts.
Paragraph 1520
You are eligible for SSI as [ fill-in 1 ][ fill-in 2 ][ fill-in 3 ].
Paragraph 1526
It may help you to know how people may be eligible. Below is a list of the only categories
of people who may be eligible for SSI:
Paragraph 1201
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1.
Citizens or nationals of the U.S.
-
2.
Aliens who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA) and who have worked long enough to have at least a total of
40 qualifying quarters of work. An alien may get the 40 quarters of work himself or
herself. Also, work done by a spouse or parent may count toward the 40 quarters of
work for getting SSI only.
We can help you get the information you need to prove how many quarters of work you,
your spouse, or your parents have.
We cannot count any quarter of work acquired after December 31, 1996 if the alien
or the worker received certain types of federally funded assistance during that quarter.
To qualify based on 40 quarters of work:
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—
the alien had to enter the U.S. before August 22, 1996, or
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—
if the alien entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996, the alien had
###to have been in one or more of the alien eligibility categories listed
###in this letter for 5 years or more.
-
3.
Certain aliens who are blind or disabled and were lawfully residing in the U.S. on
August 22, 1996.
-
4.
Certain aliens who are lawfully residing in the U.S. and who were receiving SSI benefits
on August 22, 1996.
-
5.
American Indians born outside the U.S. who are under section 289 of the INA or who
are members of Federally recognized Indian tribes under section 4(e) of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
-
6.
Aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the INA. SSI eligibility is limited
to the first 7 years after being admitted as a refugee. The 7 years apply even if
the alien's status changes to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. However,
the 7-year limit does not apply if the alien meets the requirements in category 2,
3, 4, or 11.
-
7.
Aliens granted asylum under section 208 of the INA. SSI eligibility is limited to
the first 7 years after asylum is granted. The 7 years even if the alien's status
changes to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. However, the 7-year limit does
not apply if the alien meets the requirements in category 2, 3, 4, or 11.
-
8.
Aliens whose deportation has been withheld under section 243(h) of the INA as in effect
prior to April 1, 1997, or whose removal has been withheld under section 241(b)(3)
of the INA. SSI eligibility is limited to the first 7 years after deportation or removal
is withheld. The 7 years apply even if the alien's status changes to lawfully admitted
for permanent residence. However, the 7-year limit does not apply if the alien meets
the requirements in category 2, 3, 4, or 11.
-
9.
Aliens who are Cuban or Haitian entrants as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee
Education Assistance Act of 1980. SSI eligibility is limited to the first 7 years
after entrant status is granted. The 7 years apply even if the alien's status changes
to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. However, the 7-year limit does not apply
if the alien meets the requirements in category 2, 3, 4, or 11.
Paragraph 1202
-
10.
Aliens who are admitted to the U.S. as Amerasian immigrants under section 584 of the
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988
(as contained in section 101(e) of Public Law 100-202 and amended by the 9th proviso
under “Migration and Refugee Assistance” in title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations
Act, 1989, Public Law 100-461, as amended.) SSI eligibility is limited to the first
7 years after being admitted. The 7 years apply even if the alien's status changes
to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. However, the 7-year limit does not apply
if the alien meets the requirements in category 2, 3, 4 or 11.
-
11.
Certain aliens who are:
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—
active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces (except for training purposes only),
or
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—
honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces but not discharged because
of alien status, or
-
—
spouses, including unremarried widows or widowers, or unmarried dependent children
of people in the above two groups.
AND
Under categories 3, 4, 10, and 11, the alien must also be one of the following:
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—
lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the INA;
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—
a refugee under section 207 of the INA;
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—
an asylee under section 208 of the INA;
-
—
a person whose deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of the INA as in effect
prior to April 1, 1997, or whose removal has been withheld under section 241(b)(3)
of the INA;
-
—
a parolee under section 212(d)(5) of the INA for at least one year;
-
—
a person granted conditional entry under section 203(a)(7) of the INA as in effect
prior to April 1, 1980;
-
—
a Cuban or Haitian entrant as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance
Act of 1980; or
-
—
a certain alien, or an alien parent of a child, or an alien child of a parent who
has:
-
•
been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. by a spouse, parent,
certain other family members the alien, parent, and/or child lived with; and
-
•
been determined to need SSI because of this abuse; and
-
•
a determination from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a
certain change in status.
Choices for Fill-in (1):
Choice 1 - an alien admitted as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA) in [ Month/Year ].
Your/Her/His SSI eligibility is limited to, the first 7 years after you were/she was/he
was admitted as a refugee.
Choice 2 - an alien granted asylum under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (INA) in[ Month/Year ].
Your/Her/His SSI eligibility is limited to the first 7 years after you were/she was/he
was granted asylum.
Choice 3 - an alien whose deportation has been withheld in [ Month /Year ]under section
243(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) as in effect prior to April 1,
1997, or whose removal has been withheld under section 241(b)(3) of the INA.
Your/Her/His SSI eligibility is limited to the first 7 years after your/her/his deportation
or removal was withheld. You will have the right to appeal that decision.
Choice 4 - a Cuban or Haitian entrant as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee
Education Assistance Act of 1980.
Your/Her/His SSI eligibility is limited to the first 7 years after your/her/his entrant
status is granted.
Choice 5 - an alien who was admitted to the U.S. as an Amerasian immigrant under section
584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations
Act, 1988 (as contained in section 101(e) of Public Law 100-202 and amended by the
9th proviso under “Migration and Refugee Assistance” in title II of the Foreign Operations Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriation
Action, 1989, Public Law 100-461, as amended.)
Your/Her/His SSI eligibility is limited to the first 7 years after being admitted.
Choice 6 - an alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA) and who has at least a total of 40 qualifying quarters of
work.
Choice 7 - an American Indian born outside the U.S. who is under section 289 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) or who is a member of a Federally recognized
Indian tribe under section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act.
Choice 8 - one of certain aliens who is blind or disabled and was lawfully residing
in the U.S. on August 22, 1996.
AND
Choice 9 - one of certain aliens who is lawfully residing in the U.S. and who was
receiving SSI benefits on August 22, 1996.
AND
Choice 10 - one of certain aliens who is an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces
(except for those on duty for training purposes only), or an honorably discharged
veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who was not discharged because of alien status.
AND
Choice 11 - one of certain aliens who is the spouse, including unremarried widows
or widowers, of an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces (except for those on
duty for training purposes only), or the spouse, including unremarried widows or widowers,
of an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who was not discharged
because of alien status.
AND
Choice 12 - one of certain aliens who is an unmarried dependent child of either an
active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces (except for those on duty for training
purposes only), or the unmarried dependent child of an honorably discharged veteran
of the U.S. Armed Forces who was not discharged because of alien status.
AND
Fill-in 2: (Used only with fill-in 1, choices 1 through 5 to define the 7-year limit. Use choice
1 when the date of ineligibility is in the future. Use choice 2 when it is current,
e.g., a closed period of eligibility.)
Choice 1 - Unless you become a citizen or meet another alien eligibility category,
you will be ineligible for SSI beginning [ month/day/ year ]. Because of this, you/she/he
may get SSI as an alien only until MM/DD/YY. We will send you another letter before
MM/YY explaining our decision about this limit on your eligibility. You will have
the right to appeal that decision.
Choice 2 - As a result, you are ineligible for SSI beginning Month/Day/ Year.
Fill-in 3: (Used only with fill-in 1, choices 8 through 12, to give the other qualifications
for these choices.)
Choice 1 - You are/She is/He is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Choice 2 - You are/She is/He is a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA).
Choice 3 - You are/She is/He is an asylee under section 208 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA).
Choice 4 - You are/She is/He is a person whose deportation is withheld under section
243(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) as in effect prior to April 1,
1997, or whose removal has been withheld under section 241(b)(3) of the INA.
Choice 5 - You are/She is/He is a parolee under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA) for at least one year.
Choice 6 - You are/She is/He is a person granted conditional entry under section 203(a)(7)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) as in effect prior to April 1, 1980.
Choice 7- You are/She is/He is a Cuban or Haitian entrant as defined in section 501(e)
of the Refugee Education Assistance Action of 1980.
Choice 8 - You are/She is/He is an alien, or an alien parent of a child, or an alien
child of a parent who has:
— been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. by a spouse, parent,
or certain other family members the alien, parent and/or child lived with, and
— been determined to need SSI because of this abuse; and
— a determination from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a certain change
in status.
Caption 1926: THINGS TO REMEMBER
Paragraph 1488
Your SSI payments/eligibility may change if your circumstances change. Therefore, you are required to report any
change in your situation that may affect your SSI. For example, you should tell us
if:
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-
•
anyone else moves from or into your household
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•
your marital status changes
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•
income or resources for you or members of your household change
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•
you stop or start attending school regularly
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•
your medical condition improves
-
-
•
you become a U.S. citizen or if any facts that affect your eligibility as an alien
change
This will help us pay you correctly/provide benefits correctly.
Please read the booklet “When You Get SSI — What You Need to Know” carefully for additional information about this requirement.