The Social Security Act has long stated that individuals fleeing prosecution for a felony are ineligible to receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, recent court cases exposed loopholes, allowing some individuals evading justice to continue receiving these benefits.
How the Proposed Bill Addresses SSI and SSD Benefits Loopholes
To address these issues, Senator Dan Coats of Indiana has introduced a bill to strengthen the law. This proposed legislation prevents individuals with active felony arrest warrants from receiving federal assistance under SSI or SSD programs.
According to The Journal Gazette, the existing law prohibits Social Security benefits for individuals who violate parole or probation conditions or are fleeing felony convictions. However, some recent cases have allowed payments to continue despite these rules. Sen. Coats’s proposal seeks to eliminate such loopholes by making it illegal for individuals with felony warrants to receive benefits.
According to the senator, this bill could save taxpayers an estimated $4.8 billion over the next decade.
At Newlin Disability, we are committed to protecting the rights and benefits of the disabled while advocating for the integrity of federal assistance programs. We closely monitor this proposed bill to assess its impact on Social Security Disability and SSI benefits.
