Safeguarding Benefits for Americans Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Grothman
Introduced
Summary
Require U.S. citizenship or nationality verification for federal assistance. This bill would make most income- or resource-based federal benefits available only to people who both declare they are U.S. citizens or nationals and pass documentary and database checks run through the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Households seeking benefits must file a written declaration under penalty of perjury and supply documents or face denial and appeal rights. Eligibility checks apply to determinations made on or after 1 year after enactment and no one may remain eligible past 2 years without meeting the new requirement.
- Agencies and benefit providers: Federal agencies must use SSA, DHS, and the SAVE program to confirm names, Social Security numbers, and citizenship status and must create an appeals process. Entities that willfully and repeatedly give benefits to people who fail the requirement can be disqualified and added to the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities until recovery of benefits.
- Specific household rules: A child can qualify if the child or a parent or guardian meets the requirement. Elderly residents under the Section 202 housing program and disabled residents in Section 811 housing must individually meet the citizenship requirement.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.
Limits federal benefits to citizens
If enacted, you would be ineligible for any federal assistance benefit unless you are a U.S. citizen or national. This covers help for you or your household under means-tested programs, including parts of the Social Security Act. The rule applies to eligibility decisions made one year after enactment.
New ID checks and sworn forms
If enacted, applicants and current recipients would have to sign a written declaration under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens or nationals. They would need to give documentary proof and a photo ID, and agencies would send names and Social Security numbers to SSA and DHS (including SAVE) for confirmation. The OMB Director must set the exact form and verification method within 30 days of enactment. These verification steps would start one year after enactment.
New national rule and provider penalties
If enacted, this section would generally become the main federal rule for citizenship eligibility one year after enactment, unless OMB says another law is stricter. The OMB Director could disqualify and add to the federal exclusion list any entity that willfully and repeatedly gives benefits to ineligible people or willfully and repeatedly fails to send required SSA or DHS confirmations. A disqualified entity would remain excluded until the Director determines the improper benefits were recovered.
Deadlines, appeals, and continued eligibility
If enacted, the citizenship rules would apply to determinations and redeterminations made one year after enactment. No one could remain eligible more than two years after enactment unless they meet the citizenship requirement. Agencies must notify people if documents or confirmations are missing and offer an appeals process. Once you meet the rule for a benefit, you would remain treated as meeting it while you stay continuously eligible.
Household rules and housing exceptions
If enacted, a child would count as meeting the citizenship rule if the child or a parent or legal guardian meets it. For household-based benefits, other household members would be treated as meeting the rule if any treated household member meets it. But for Section 202 elderly housing and Section 811 disability housing, the elderly or disabled resident must individually meet the citizenship requirement. These rules would start one year after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Grothman
WI • R
Cosponsors
Perry
PA • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Boebert
CO • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Mace
SC • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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