An Urgent Test

The Russian community prepares to take
Federation-sponsored citizen-prep courses.

t

PHIL JACOBS

EDITOR

uick. Answer the follow-
ing questions without the
aid of a history book or en-
cyclopedia.
1.
o nominates judges to
the Supreme Court?
2. Name three rights or free-
doms guaranteed by the Bill of
Rights?
3.What is the capital of your
state?
Now, suppose if you didn't
know the answers to these ques-
tions it would cost you almost
every penny you have per
month. Suppose the questions
were written in a foreign lan-
guage. Suppose you, were 70
years old and had to learn that
language.
Boris Tillsik, who was' an
army physician and hospital ad-

ministrator, knows precious few
of these answers, and even few-
er of the words written above.
And for the 78-year-old Kiev na-
tive now living in Oak Park, it
could possibly mean the loss of
$500 a month in Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) benefits
and food stamps. He has had
stomach surgery. His wife,
Pesya, 70, is also ill. They have
no children to take care of them.
He has tears in his eyes as he
talks about his dream of coming
to the United States. He says he
can't believe that passing a citi-
zenship test could be the ruina-
tion of life.
Here's the situation.
Recent changes in the feder-
al welfare system will change
the way benefits are available.

After living in the U.S. for five
years, refugees who have not yet
become citizens will be barred
from receiving SSI cash assis-
tance and food stamps. Refugees
with less time here will receive
reduced food stamp and SSI
benefits. Those barred from SSI,
food stamps and other benefits
must obtain citizenship to get
those benefits.
Here in Detroit, the welfare
reform affects an estimated 800
Russian Jews who are not yet
naturalized. Across the nation,
half a million immigrants could
lose benefits. Individuals could
receive a letter from the federal
government as early as Febru-
ary informing them that they
will receive their last SSI check
in July.
Welfare reform will affect non-
citizens, including legal immi-
grants and refugees here five
years or more immediately. It
will affect families of new Amer-
icans as benefits are reduced. Fi-
nancial support during the
six-to-eight month waiting peri-
od between application for citi-

zenship and awarding
of citizenship will be
cut.
Those approaching
their five-year mark in
U.S. residency include
the elderly, homebound
disabled and nursing
home residents.
The safety nets pro-
vided through Jewish
agencies will be signif-
icantly strained by an
increase in need. The
Resettlement Service,
which helps Russian
emigres start their new
lives in the Detroit
area, is already dealing
with panic among its
clients. The impact will
range widely from the
Jewish Vocational Ser-
vice to Yad Ezra, which
could find itself facing
a growing number of
requests for food assis-
tance.
The response, at least local-
ly, is a massive Federation ef-
fort to help those in need pass

the citizenship test. Resettle-
ment Service will begin eight-
week courses Jan. 6 to help the
immigrant population prepare
for the test. The courses will be

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