Letter to my state representatives for disability benefits reform
[State representative]
I'm writing to you on behalf of the millions of Americans that rely on Medicaid, SSI, and similar programs to ask for them to be modernized and reformed.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) was created by the 1972 Social Security Amendments and began two years later. It aimed to replace sparse state programs and to help lift the disabled and elderly out of poverty. Due to the lack of modernization, it now keeps people in poverty and prevents them from many pursuits.
For example, those who are able to work are limited to earning a maximum of $1,971 while the most they can receive is $943 (per month). A total monthly budget of $2,914 would be unsustainable in most cities and easily half of it would be eaten by rent. Those on SSI have a greater need for medical care, so after rent and healthcare, they would have little, zero, or even be in debt every month.
Many people falsely believe that supporting these people wouldn't be beneficial to the economy. However, there are numerous intelligent and talented disabled and elderly people who could contribute more to our country when given the necessary support. Modernizing the limits would allow those who can work some to work more than they currently can due to income restrictions. If we take the example of palliative care programs (programs which focus on providing the best quality of life possible with severe disabilities), supporting disabled people could save a significant amount of money as those programs do.
But, I also urge you to consider this because it is the right thing to do for our fellow Americans. The price of living with disability or aging in our great country should not be struggling in poverty and a poorer quality of life. We are not measured by how the best and most powerful are treated, but by how we treat our most vulnerable - all of us will be the vulnerable ones in time.
