While the drug/alcohol benefit elimination provision was politically popular (though largely unpublicized), it marked the first time Congress has ever limited the type of medical impairments which will be recognized as causing a disability for purposes of benefit entitlement. In so doing, a precedent has been set for the future elimination of other "unpopular" diseases or illnesses.
A welfare bill passed by Congress in 1995 (H.R. 4) but vetoed by President Clinton in January of this year eliminated SSI benefits for most legal immigrants and significantly tightened disability criteria for children claimants. Since President Clinton's veto, a new bill was introduced in the House in May, H.R. 3507, which includes most of the same provisions of H.R. 4 and adds provisions which further limit SSI payments to some individuals. A new bill introduced in the Senate in May, S. 1664, places new restrictions on SSI and other public benefits for legal immigrants. The House has not yet acted on this bill, although the same subject matter is covered in H.R. 3507.
Congress and the President continue to negotiate on competing changes to the Medicaid (MediCal) program. Generally, Congress and the Governors want to block-grant Medicaid to the states which could lead to the loss of Medicaid for people on SSI. The President wants continued federal guarantees of payment for certain services with caps on the federal government's total spending for Medicaid. All three parties propose different amounts of cuts. Because of the significant differences, the legislation has stalled. Further movement on this front may not occur until after this year's elections in November.
As you can see, several important issues in this area remain alive as
the 104th Congress enters deeper into its second session. It is impossible
to predict when, if ever, these proposals will become law. However, it
is clear at this point that the November, 1996 elections should prove to
be among the most important in recent years for disabled individuals who
rely on Social Security and SSI benefits.