Gerald Kleczka: “I rise in support of H.R. 4277 and urge my colleagues to do the same. I am particularly pleased to see that this bill…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4277 and urge my colleagues to do the same. I am particularly pleased to see that this bill addresses the Supplemental Security Income [SSI] Program, which is in dire need of reform. In recent months, SSI has been the subject of widespread public outrage. Reports abound of alcoholics and drug addicts using taxpayer money to finance their habits and of parents encouraging children to misbehave in school so they can qualify for benefits. Clearly, the system is not working and H.R. 4277 takes a much-needed step toward fixing it. Under current law, substance abusers whose addictions are serious enough to qualify as disabling can receive SSI if they are low income. These recipients are required to undergo treatment and receive benefits through a representative payee. However, a General Accounting Office study shows that the Social Security Administration [SSA], which runs the program, is not adequately tracking these individuals. It can confirm that only 9 percent of these substance abusers are in treatment. And, a full 84 percent are lost in the system. Moreover, a recent Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General study finds that few SSI recipients leave the program because of successful treatment. This study, which looked at 196 drug addicts and alcoholics, found only one case where a recipient left the rolls due to successful rehabilitation. In fact, the most common reason for termination of benefits is death.”