This niche disability legislation fixes an absurd bureaucratic pitfall and can really pass – By TealBomb (Daily Kos) / July 19, 2023
Social safety net programs like Supplemental Security Income allow disabled Americans to live and thrive independently. However, many of these programs have strict rules around work eligibility that penalize folks who want to work.
Andrew Schlesinger in Louisiana, for example, who was interviewed by WDSU, is among the thousands of Americans facing this issue. Schlesinger has spina bifida, and SSI qualifies him for Medicaid insurance. However, if he has more than $2,000 in his bank account, he would lose his eligibility for both SSI and Medicaid. Thus he would be penalized under the current policy for putting his multiple college degrees to work.
This is an absurd policy that often keeps disabled people impoverished. The Work Without Worry Act introduced in Congress aims to safeguard financial security by guaranteeing that people like Schlesinger can continue receiving benefits regardless of their earnings.
Before we go any further, let me say this is a pretty niche bill. That is unsurprising considering it is a bipartisan effort, and Republicans are not known for making it easier for marginalized Americans to thrive. However, any progress is welcome, especially when it comes to fixing bureaucratic pitfalls that disadvantage front-line communities.
