- Court: United States Supreme Court
- Area(s) of Law: Constitutional Law
- Date Filed: April 21, 2022
- Case #: 20-303
- Judge(s)/Court Below: KAVANAUGH, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which ROBERTS, C. J., and THOMAS, BREYER, ALITO, KAGAN, GORSUCH, and BARRETT, JJ., joined. THOMAS, J., and GORSUCH, J., filed concurring opinions. SOTOMAYOR, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
- Full Text Opinion
Respondent received Supplemental Security Income benefits while living in New York and continued to receive those benefits after moving to Puerto Rico. Once it was discovered Respondent changed residence, the U.S. sued for restitution, but Respondent argued Congressional exclusion of SSI benefits to Puerto Rico residents violates the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause. The district court and court of appeals both affirmed the exclusion violates the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to determine whether the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause requires Congress to make SSI benefits available equally to Puerto Rico residents and residents of the States. The Court held that Congress does not have to extend SSI benefits to residents of Puerto Rico. 42 U. S. C. §1382c(a)(1)(B)(i). The Court reasoned that based on the Territory Clause of the Constitution, Congress can legislate differently to the territories than the states and not every tax extends to the territories nor does every benefit program apply. Since Puerto Rico is a territory and typically exempt from most taxes, it provides a rational basis to distinguish residents of Puerto Rico from those of the States as it concerns SSI benefits. Therefore, Congress’ exclusion of Puerto Rico residents from SSI benefits is constitutional. REVERSED.