Plain-English summary
Court rules Congress may exclude Puerto Rico from Supplemental Security Income
The Court held that the Constitution does not require Congress to make Supplemental Security Income (SSI) available to residents of Puerto Rico. The judgment reversing the First Circuit means Puerto Ricans living on the island are not entitled under the Fifth Amendment’s equal-protection component to SSI benefits.
Why this matters
The ruling settles a long-running question about whether people living in U.S. territories have the same entitlement to certain federal welfare benefits as residents of the 50 States. It affects how Congress can structure federal programs and the legal protections available to territory residents who depend on federal benefits.
Who may feel it
- Residents of Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories
- People receiving or applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal lawmakers and agencies that administer benefit programs
- Advocates and attorneys working on territorial rights and social welfare
Key questions
- Does the equal-protection component of the Fifth Amendment require that Supplemental Security Income be provided to residents of Puerto Rico?