Skip to main content

Supplemental Security Income: Noncitizen Caseload Continues to Grow

T-HEHS-96-149 Published: May 23, 1996. Publicly Released: May 23, 1996.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

GAO discussed the rapid increase in the number of noncitizens receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. GAO noted that: (1) between 1986 and 1994, the percentage of noncitizen SSI recipients grew from 6 percent to 12 percent; (2) program outreach and eligibility expansion, limited eligibility review, and limited employment assistance for the disabled have contributed to the growth of noncitizen and citizen SSI recipients; (3) immigration provisions that do not require refugees or asylees to be sponsored or supported by a U.S. resident have also contributed to the growth of noncitizen SSI recipients; (4) almost 70 percent of noncitizen SSI recipients are at least 65 years old; (5) disabled noncitizen SSI recipients are the fastest growing recipient group, averaging 19 percent growth annually between 1986 and 1993; (6) although an exact number is not known, some non-English-speaking noncitizen SSI recipients have obtained SSI benefits illegally with the help of translators; and (7) translator fraud may have contributed to the growth in the number of disabled noncitizen recipients.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Disability benefitsElderly personsFraudImmigrantsIncome maintenance programsMedicaidPeople with disabilitiesRefugeesSocial security benefitsSupplemental security income