H.R. 42: Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act

This bill, titled the Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act, aims to amend the existing Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Its primary focus is to modify how certain payments and benefits provided to aged, blind, or disabled Alaska Natives, as well as their descendants, are treated when determining eligibility for specific programs.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• The bill proposes to revise Section 29(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
• It specifically targets the treatment of payments or benefits that are distributed from a Settlement Trust.
• For the first five years following the enactment of the bill, any amount received by a Native or descendant of a Native, which is distributed from a Settlement Trust, would not be counted towards their eligibility for federal programs.
• This exclusion applies to individuals identified as aged, blind, or disabled according to the definitions outlined in the Social Security Act.

Impact on Federal Assistance Programs

The modifications proposed by this bill would affect how the financial status of specific Alaska Natives is assessed when they apply for various federal programs. By exempting Settlement Trust distributions from eligibility criteria, it aims to provide financial relief to eligible individuals, allowing them to retain support from such trusts without losing access to federal benefits that assist with living expenses, healthcare, and other essential needs.

Beneficiaries

This legislation specifically targets Alaska Natives and their descendants who fall into the categories of aged, blind, or disabled. This group may benefit more freely from Settlement Trust distributions, as those amounts would not interfere with their qualifications for receiving assistance from various federal programs.

Implementation Timeline

The bill outlines a five-year protection period during which the newly exempted benefits will be applicable once the bill is enacted.

Relevant Companies

None found