Number: 111- 27
Date: December 16, 2009

On December 15, 2009, President Obama signed H.R. 4218, the “No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009”, which became Public Law 111-115.

•  The bill prohibits the payment of any retroactive Title II and Title XVI benefits to individuals while they are in prison, are in violation of conditions of their parole or probation, or are fleeing to avoid prosecution for a felony or a crime punishable by sentence of more than one year.

•  Under the bill, SSA would not pay these retroactive benefits until the beneficiary is no longer a prisoner, probation or parole violator, or fugitive felon.

•  The provision is effective with respect to payments that would otherwise be made on or after December 15, 2009.