Legislation Enacted On Payments To Prisoners

The No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act was passed by Congress on Thursday. The Act prohibits payments of Social Security benefits to anyone who is ineligible for benefit payments because of imprisonment. This may seem redundant but some prisoners are otherwise eligible for benefits for periods of time before their imprisonment. This prohibition on payment of benefits only applies until the claimant is again eligible for payment of benefits, at which point the back benefits may be paid. Amounts may still be deducted and paid out of benefits owing to a prisoner for items such as child support or attorney fees that will be paid to someone other than the prisoner.