When non-citizens apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), they are deemed with
the income and resources of their immigration sponsor(s) and the sponsor’s spouse
for a period of 3 years after admission into the U.S., unless they become blind or
disabled after admission to the U.S. for permanent residence, or a sponsor-to-alien
deeming exception applies.
The DDS makes medical determinations on cases submitted by the field office (FO) when
the claimant:
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•
Meets 1619(b) eligibility;
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•
Elects to change the type of claim category (multi-category case); or
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•
Is subject to alien-sponsor deeming.
NOTE: The deeming exception does not apply to most individuals who are admitted into the
U.S. under “new” affidavits of support, as described in Sponsor-to-Alien Deeming (1996-1997
Legislation) (see SI 00502.200A.2).