SSA has overall responsibility for the SSI program. Some legal immigrants are admitted to the country under the financial sponsorship of a U.S. resident. Refugees and asylees do not need to demonstrate they will be self-sufficient to reside in the United States. It also provides that any noncitizen who receives more than 12 months’ worth of federal, state, or local needs-based benefits within 5 years of becoming a lawful permanent resident (with several exceptions) would be considered deportable as a “public charge.”

	Overview of Noncitizen SSI Recipients

From 1986 through 1994, the number of aged or disabled noncitizen SSI recipients grew an average of 15 percent annually. Figure 1 gives past and projected numbers of noncitizens on SSI. Increased immigration has probably contributed to the growth in noncitizen SSI caseloads. Aged Recipients and Affidavits of Support

Nearly 70 percent of noncitizens on SSI are at least 65 years old. Nearly 60 percent of aged noncitizen SSI recipients have been in the country fewer than 5 years. Disabled Recipients and Translator Fraud

While disabled recipients constitute a smaller share of noncitizen cases than aged recipients, their number is growing faster, averaging 19 percent growth annually from 1986 through 1993. Some ineligible non-English-speaking applicants have obtained SSI benefits illegally with the help of translators.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO discussed the rapid increase in the number of noncitizens receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

What GAO Found

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.