Subscribe now

Many benefits off-limits

Regarding the March 26 statement by Carleen Reilly that (unauthorized) immigrants “get much more than our poor here in the United States:” Unauthorized immigrants are not eligible for the following federal public benefits: Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health care (Medicaid and Medicare) and food stamps.

Most documented immigrants cannot receive federal Medicaid, TANF, food stamps or SSI during their first five years or longer in the United States, regardless of how much they have worked or paid in taxes. However, immigrants pay taxes that fund public benefits. Between one-half to three-quarters of unauthorized immigrants pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes. All unauthorized immigrants pay sales taxes and property taxes (even if they rent).

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has stated that unauthorized immigrants “account for a major portion” of the billions of dollars paid into the Social Security system under names or Social Security numbers that don’t match SSA records. Immigrants cannot benefit from these benefits while they are unauthorized.

Paul McDonnell

Spokane

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
editor@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-3815
Phone
(509) 459-5430

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy