By Naomi Moore, Fall 2023 NACDD Policy Intern
On Sept 12, 2023, a bipartisan bill was introduced by Senator Brown and Senator Cassidy called the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Savings Penalty Elimination Act.
Currently with Supplemental Security Income (SSI), there is an assets limit that has been stuck at $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for married couples since 1989. It also has not been adjusted for inflation at all. The newly introduced bill would increase the asset limit to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples.
The current limit discourages people from saving money due to the fear of losing their benefits. It also discourages people from getting married since it would mean less money for a married couple as opposed to a single individual.
The Ohio Council on Developmental Disabilities, in partnership with the Ohio Association of County Boards on Developmental Disabilities (OACB) and Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA), and LMK Advocacy organized a fly-in event to advocate for federal policies impacting Ohio’s residents. In a press release about the event, the Ohio DD Council shares that “the two-day event was supported by a grant from the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council and by a donation from CareSource. Planning and logistics for the event was conducted by LMK Advocacy.” This was a two-day event under the Ohio DD council’s Federal Legislative Advocacy Partnership grant. On the first day, individuals with disabilities, family members, and professionals from organizations from the Ohio Provider Resource Association travelled to Washington D.C. and received training in the form of briefings on federal policies that impact Ohio.
The 2023 team received policy briefings from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
These policy briefings discussed the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S. 2767/ H.R., Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professional Act (S. 1332/ H.R. 2941), Direct CARE Opportunity Act (H.R. 4720), Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act (S.1298), Better Care Better Jobs Act (S. 100/ H.R. 547), among other concerning issues affect individuals with disabilities.
On the following day, the 2023 team representing the Ohio DD Council and organizations from the Ohio Provider Resource Association met with their Congressional offices and discussed how certain federal policies, with a focus on the SSI assets limit, impact people in Ohio.
Paul Jarvis, the Liaison Officer for the Ohio DD Council, was there in attendance during the fly-in. In an interview with NACDD staff, he discusses the significance of this fly-in and individuals with disabilities meeting their congressmen.
“Because it’s important. I think we’ve heard this at the state level, it’s important for congressmen and their staff in D.C. to see people with disabilities because [. . .] if you’re not there, then you’re out of out of sight out of mind. So, there is some importance to actually being there and being seen. There’s value there.”
