[NFBWATlk] Another bill to keep your eye on

[Kris Colcock]

Hello All,

With the Washington Seminar on the horizon we will be contacting our
representatives regarding three main issues. I hope all will take the time
to do so as the National Federation of the Blind has worked hard to craft
this legislation. They are important issues and should be a priority when
talking to your legislators.

I also wanted to let you know about another bill that is being considered.
Please know that this is for informational purposes only and is NOT
formally backed by the organization. However it does talk about SSI issues
and I believe you should know about it. Here is the article:

*NEW LEGISLATION:*



*NEWSWEEK*

*Social Security Benefits to Change Under New Bill: Here's Who's Impacted*

*Published Jan 15, 2025 at 2:10 PM EST Updated Jan 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM EST*



New legislation would allow disabled Americans to marry without risking the
loss of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

The bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Chris Van
Hollen (D- Md.), aims to remove the penalty on disability benefits for SSI
recipients who choose to marry.



At present, the Social Security Act counts the "money and property" of
those marrying SSI recipients when assessing eligibility.

Those with SSI benefits who marry have their spouse's income and resources
factored into their benefits, which can reduce their payments or fully
eliminate them due to ineligibility.



What's more, when two individuals receiving SSI benefits marry with no
additional income, benefits "amount to 25 percent less than the total they
would receive if they were living together but not as husband and wife,"
according to the Department of Labor's Office of Disability and Income
Assistance Policy
<https://members.nabwis.org/ct.php?lid=360941819&mm=114727789843>.



"I'm working alongside Senator Moran to build support for this legislation
that will help people with disabilities strengthen their financial security
while supporting their freedom to marry. As a common-sense, bipartisan
solution, we'll be looking for opportunities to pass this bill, and I'm
confident in its prospects," Senator Chris Van Hollen told *Newsweek*.



"Currently, if a person is disabled and relies on Social Security Income,
they can receive a maximum benefit of $943 per month and their countable
assets cannot exceed $2,000," Krisstin Petersmarck, president and founder
of New Horizon Retirement Solutions, told *Newsweek*. "However, if the
individual gets married and both spouses rely on Social Security, their
combined monthly income benefit is reduced by 25% and the maximum countable
assets of both spouses cannot exceed $3,000."



The legislation—*Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act*—would rule
out a spouse's income and resources when assessing SSI benefit eligibility
and exclude marital status when determining SSI benefit amounts for
disabled adults, or those with diagnosed intellectual or developmental
disabilities, according to text of the bill obtained by *Newsweek.*



"I have anecdotal evidence of some couples so desperate, that they have
divorced, so that the more needy spouse can receive low income benefits,"
Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst,
told *Newsweek*.



If passed, disabled Americans would be free to marry without the potential
of losing their SSI benefits.



The legislation was first introduced on December 23, 2024, and referred to
the Senate <https://members.nabwis.org/ct.php?lid=360943041&mm=114727789843>
Committee
on Finance on January 13, 2025. It's endorsed by the Autism Society of
America, Autism Speaks, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy
Association, National Down Syndrome Congress
<https://members.nabwis.org/ct.php?lid=360944263&mm=114727789843> and
National Down Syndrome Society.



*The BiPartisan Bill is S. 73 and is the “SSI Marriage Penalty” bill.
Please make contact with your Senators and Representative to ask for their
support in making this bill law.*