Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Children & Family Services Committee

HB 1716

Brief Description:  Providing income assistance benefits to qualified World War II veterans living in the Republic of the Philippines.

Sponsors:  Representatives Veloria, Mielke, Buck, O'Brien, Conway, Talcott, Hunt, Crouse, Clements, Murray, Schoesler, Miloscia, Benson, Tokuda, Santos, D. Schmidt, McDermott, Lovick, Cody, Campbell, Haigh, Keiser, Ogden and Dickerson; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The bill provides a one-time $1,500 lump sum payment to Filipino veterans of World War II who are recipients of the SSI state supplement as of December 14, 1999, and move to the Philippines.

$The lump sum payment is in lieu of the SSI state supplement benefit.

Hearing Date:  2/14/01

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786‑7152).

Background: 

Subtitle B of the federal Public Law 106-169 of 1999 permits the payment of 75 percent of federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to World War II veterans who live outside the United States.

To be eligible for this benefit, the veteran must have served in the United States Armed Forces, or, served under the command of the Armed Forces of the United States in the military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, or in organized guerilla forces in the Pacific Area.

Washington pays a state funded supplement to eligible federal SSI beneficiaries.  The state supplement monthly benefit varies with the recipients= location and  living situations, and ranges from $3.71 to $166.10.

Summary of Bill: 

The bill provides a one-time lump sum payment of $1,500 to certain veterans of World War II who are recipients of the SSI state supplement as of December 14, 1999.

The veterans must have been members of the Commonwealth of the Philippines military forces, or a Regular Philippine Scout or Special Philippine Scout, and in the service of the United States on July 26, 1941, or thereafter.  The veterans must move to the Philippines and establish and maintain a residence.

The lump sum payment is in lieu of the SSI state supplement benefit.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.