Number: 109-12
Date: December 23, 2005

Conference Report Passes on H.R. 1815
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

On December 21, 2005, the Senate agreed to the conference report on H.R. 1815, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, by a voice vote. The House of Representatives passed the conference report on December 19, 2005, by a vote of 374-41. The bill now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it into law.

The conference-reported bill includes the following provision of interest to SSA.

Extension of Eligibility for SSI for Certain Individuals in Families that Include Members of the Reserve and National Guard

  • Would provide that individuals who were made ineligible for SSI because of their spouses or parent(s) being called to active military duty would not have to file a new application for SSI benefits if they again could be eligible for benefits before the end of 24 consecutive months of ineligibility.
    (Currently, individuals ineligible for SSI for 12 or more consecutive months must reapply in order to become eligible for SSI.)

  • Would be effective upon enactment.