42 U.S.C. § 1320b–3 — Applicants or recipients under public assistance programs not to be required to make election respecting certain veterans’ benefits

(a) Supplemental Security Income program. Despite any other law, and subject to subsection (b), a person who applies for or receives aid or assistance under a State plan approved under subchapter I, X, XIV, or XVI, or benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program established by subchapter XVI, may not— (1) be required, as a condition of becoming eligible for or continuing to receive that aid, assistance, or benefits, to make an election under section 306 of the Veterans’ and Survivors’ Pension Improvement Act of 1978 about a pension paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or (2) be denied that aid, assistance, or benefits, or have its amount reduced, because the person failed or refused to make that election. (b) Period of effectiveness. Subsection (a) applies only to a person who is an applicant for or recipient of the aid, assistance, or benefits described in subsection (a), and only during a period when— (1) if the person applies for or receives aid or assistance under a State plan mentioned in subsection (a), the State with that plan has a medical-assistance plan approved under subchapter XIX under which medical assistance is available to that person only for periods when the person receives the aid, assistance, or benefits described in subsection (a); or (2) if the person applies for or receives benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program established by subchapter XVI, the State where the person applies for or receives those benefits has such a medical-assistance plan.