[Ct-nfb] Fwd: I'm not allowed to save money

[Danielle Spruill]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Sara Wolff via Change.org" <mail at change.org>
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 21:37:36 +0000
Subject: I'm not allowed to save money
To: dspruill87 at gmail.com

I'm 31 years old, and I happen to have Down syndrome. I have two jobs,
and lead an independent life, however, when my mom died suddenly last
year, things got a lot harder for me and my family. I want to support
myself and save money for my future, but if I save more than $2,000,
I'll lose the benefits I depend on like Medicaid and Social Security.

That's because of a law that says that people with disabilities like
me can't have more than $2,000 in assets or we risk losing the
benefits we need to live. For me, living on my own, that means I can't
even save enough to put down rent and a security deposit on an
apartment. This law keeps me dependent on other people, and that's
really scary now that my mom is gone.

But there is a solution: The ABLE Act. The Achieving a Better Life
Experience Act is a bill in Congress that would allow people like me
to save money for our futures through 529-like accounts that wouldn't
impact our medical care and disability benefits.

I started a petition on Change.org calling on Congress to pass the
ABLE Act this year. Will you click here to sign it?

https://www.change.org/petitions/the-united-states-congress-pass-the-able-act?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=48777&alert_id=TjLvAdIqOY_dFXddYqxCK

It's very scary for me to be on my own knowing I'm not allowed to save
money in case something goes wrong. I've worked so hard to build a
life for myself, living on my own and working as a law clerk. It's
horrible to think I could lose everything because I have no security.
I dream of living on my own, working one, full-time job, and even
taking postsecondary courses to earn a degree.

With an ABLE account, I would not only have security, I could also
plan for my future. This bill will not only change my life but has the
potential to change the lives of millions of people with and without
disabilities.

Some people think my disability holds me back, but they're wrong. I've
learned that I can be independent, even without my mom, as hard as
that is. I can hold down a job, and even speak at rallies in
Washington, DC. I just need to be allowed to make my own way and plan
for my better life. Will you help me make that possible?

Please click here to sign my petition calling on Congress to pass the
ABLE Act so that people like me can plan for our futures.

https://www.change.org/petitions/the-united-states-congress-pass-the-able-act?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=48777&alert_id=TjLvAdIqOY_dFXddYqxCK

When this bill passes, I'll be standing next to President Obama when
he signs it. And I'll thank you for making that moment happen.

Thank you,

Sara Wolff
Moscow, PA


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