No 109-8
Date November 18, 2005

Senate Passes H.R. 1815 The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

On November 15, 2005, the Senate passed H.R. 1815, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, by a vote of 98-0. The Senate requested a conference on the bill with the House of Representatives.

The Senate-passed 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. Individuals ineligible for fewer than 12 months are reinstated without having to file new applications.)

  • Would be effective upon enactment.