(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release in Washington D.C. today from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office, Congressmen Deluzio (PA-17) and Mike Rulli (OH-06) introduced the Protecting Supplemental Security Income for Disaster Victims Act, legislation to ensure that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients do not lose or have their benefits reduced when they receive settlement payments after a tragedy, like the February 3rd, 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. This bill ensures that settlement payments are exempt from them being counted as income or as resources when determining eligibility for SSI and the amounts for benefits. The bill is aligned with guidance from the IRS on the treatment of settlement funds for tax purposes and covers both the East Palestine derailment settlement and any settlements in the future received for damage or depreciation of property, personal injury, or physical sickness.