Dec 18, 2009

House Of Representatives Passes Extension of SSI Withholding And Non-Attorney Withholding

The House of Representatives has passed the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2009 (page 115) which would make withholding of fees for representing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claimants permanent and which would also make permanent withholding of fees for certain non-attorney representatives of Social Security claimants. There appear to be no other provisions in the bill affecting Social Security.

This bill is in a complicated procedural posture not worth explaining here. The net effect, however, is that the ball is in the Senate's court. Obviously, the Senate is tied up at the moment with health care reform. This bill will probably be the most important piece of business before the Senate come the new year -- assuming Republicans cannot succeed in delaying health care reform that long. While the Social Security provisions are uncontroversial, the entire bill is anathema to Republicans, who will try hard to stall it.

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