Supreme Court rules Congress can deny federal disability benefits to residents of Puerto Rico

[Jose Garcia]

Source: CNBC

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Congress is not required to extend a federal disability benefits program to residents of Puerto Rico.

The court ruled 8-1 that because Congress treats Puerto Rico residents differently from those residing in the states when it comes to tax laws, it can do the same when it comes to the Supplemental Income Security, or SSI, benefits program.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the court's three liberals whose family stems from Puerto Rico, dissented.

SSI benefits are meant to offer regular financial assistance for disabled and elderly people in need. The program is available to people living in the 50 U.S. states, but not to those living in some U.S. territories.

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/04/21/supreme-court-rules-congress-can-deny-federal-disability-benefits-to-residents-of-puerto-rico.html

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Wow. Even two of the court's three liberal justices sided with the Biden Administration on this.

[Pachamama]

1. American Citizens?

Meh….not so much.

I really ask myself at what point Puerto Ricans demand statehood - or - seek independence.

[jimfields33]

10. They do not pay federal taxes.

I’m sure that’s why they were turned down.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

23. Do they pay social security tax?

[Kaleva]

25. SSI money comes from the general fund. Not from SS tax

[jimfields33]

30. Yes and when they turn 67 or whatever age it will be, they'll get it.

However SS disability comes from federal taxes.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

32. Then I don't think they should be entitled to SSI

If they don’t pay into the system that funds it.

[jimfields33]

33. Agreed

[Kid Berwyn]

12. Except when there's a war and a draft.

Medal of Honor for Puerto Rican Soldiers

https://www.pr51st.com/medal-of-honor-for-puerto-rican-soldiers/

Other than that, theirs is a second class back of the bus kind of citizenship.

[AZProgressive]

18. I served with a lot of soldiers from Puerto Rico and US territories

When I enlisted under Bush. Always felt they should be a state since they have so many in the Armed Forces and they should be able to vote.

[Calista241]

31. They are able to vote today.

They can vote for President, have representation in the electoral college. They also vote for governor and all local political offices.

What they don’t have is representation in the uS House or US Senate.

[bluevoter4life]

34. They cannot vote for President

Nor do they have Electoral College representation. Nor do any of the other US territories. They can vote in a Presidential primary and can send delegates to the respective party conventions, but they cannot vote for President in the general election.

All territories do have non-voting delegates in the House of Representatives. These delegates can introduce legislation, co-sponsor legislation, and vote on bills in committee, but they cannot vote if the bill comes to the floor for a full vote.

[Calista241]

35. You are correct. My mistake.

[bluevoter4life]

36. All good

[Hoyt]

2. Congress CAN deny disability benefits seems proper, unless they say Congress must deny benefits.

Point is, SC made correct decision.

Now, the question becomes why the hell would Congress deny these benefits to Puerto Ricans?

[Ray Bruns]

8. money.

[llashram]

3. is this fair?

Puerto Ricans pay social security and medicare taxes...to the tune of 4billion annually.

[Thunderbeast]

5. SSI is not funded from the Social Security trust fund payroll tax

SSI is funded from other federal taxes...primarily income taxes.

This is the wilipedia post regaring federal taxation in Puerto Rico:

Not all Puerto Rican employees and corporations pay federal income taxes. Federal law requires payment of federal income tax from the following residents and corporations only: federal government employees in Puerto Rico, residents who are members of the United States military, those with income sources outside of Puerto Rico, those individuals or corporations who do business with the federal government, and those Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the United States.

[llashram]

6. appreciate this

gives me perspective.

[Rebl2]

7. Can they get

Social Security Disability? It’s separate from SSI is my understanding.

[Thunderbeast]

16. PR citizens pay FICA taxes

As such, they qualify for retirement, Medicare, and SSD disability assuming they have a qualifying work record.

[elleng]

11. Thanks

[LiberalFighter]

4. Then why should Puerto Ricans pay in?

[Ray Bruns]

9. They don't. That was the point.

[modrepub]

13. Maybe They Should Consider Applying For Statehood

or maybe not. I'm sure tax considerations are one reason US Territories are reluctant to change their current status.

[Vinca]

15. Maybe they should ask Canada if they're interested.

The U.S. hasn't been treating them especially well the past few years.

[2naSalit]

28. That might just be...

In their best interest. US will never let their colony go, too much military installment and unchecked polluting... can't let that go.

[modrepub]

29. I'd Be Surprised If Canada Would Want Them

Seriously, it's less welcoming up there than you think. Visiting NF I was surprised to find out they force moved a lot of folks after the fishing grounds collapsed in the 80s and 90s. You could stay, but the government services were pulled out at a certain point and you were left to your own devices.

The great white north isn't as socialist as Americans think.

[Demovictory9]

27. GOP would fight having potentially two more democratic senators

[Polybius]

14. Whenever it's an 8-1 vote, the dissenter is always either Thomas or Sotomayor

What was her reasoning for this?

[AZProgressive]

17. Her parents were born in Puerto Rico

Not sure if it is the reason but it is interesting the 1 that dissented has family connections to Puerto Rico.

[pnwmom]

19. One more reason to apply for statehood. nt

[brooklynite]

20. Its a simple tax issue, rather than a racial one...

Puerto Rico residents, despite being US citizens, don't pay US tax, so don't receive US benefits.

[cstanleytech]

21. I do not like the ruling however its probably the legally correct one so Puerto Rico

has three options.
Keep things as they are, join as a state or take itself out from under the US and became a new nation.

[gladium et scutum]

22. IMO. we should allow all

U.S. Territories to become independent nations in their own right. We as a nation should shed ourselves of the last vestiges of colonial empire.

[Kaleva]

26. The economy of PR would probably crash if it became independent

[IbogaProject]

24. Fourth option

They start paying a reasonable rate into the Federal government without becoming a state.