Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults
- Justin Borses
- Apr 1, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: May 5, 2022
NORTHRIDGE, CA- On January 13th, 2022, California Congressman Jimmy Panetta introduced the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act in the United States House of Representatives. The topic is usually viewed through the lens of the LGBTQ+ community. Panetta and other supporters say that marriage for adults with disabilities have often resulted in the loss of fundamental healthcare rights and programs. This bill seeks to rectify that mistake and aid in the struggle, and is now getting national attention.
The Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act is new legislation that may help people with disabilities in their financial futures. It seeks to eliminate what many are calling “marriage penalties.” While unintentional, it makes a union between two people impractical and nearly impossible.
Specific details include those who may lose Social Security Disability benefits and healthcare by way of marriage. Medicaid, Medicare and monthly stipend cuts can happen as a result of a change in income.
Panetta’s bill would rescind the mandate that a disabled adult child be an unmarried beneficiary. They would not lose benefits if they choose to get married. If one person with a disability marries another within the community, neither will lose SSI or Medicaid.
He noted that many have disabilities since birth or early in life and discrimination exists, “Social Security discriminates against people with early onset disabilities, such as developmental or intellectual disabilities … Eliminating this disparity is the focus of my bill.”
Ayesha Lewis, Staff Attorney at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, (DREDF) is pushing this policy, “because of reductions or loss of benefits due to marriage literally means life in poverty.”
Ad Link:
Panetta’s bill doesn’t do as much good as it seems. It would only affect a subset of people and not the whole population. SSI payments may be reduced because fewer people would be signing up for assistance.
He finishes with a cautious optimism, “I support eliminating all marriage penalties, but a targeted approach on this discriminatory treatment is more pragmatic given narrow majorities in both chambers are finding it increasingly difficult to compromise on anything as the next election nears.”
Audio: Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults is Gaining National Attention
By, Justin Borses
Contributions, Forbes
Photo, Disability Insider
Audio, Justin Borses
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Comments