Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #DemolishDisabledPoverty
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Welp, the @SenateFinance Committee is about to hold the first Senate hearing on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in nearly a quarter-century.
The subtext: SSI’s been forgotten for so long, even the Senate holding a damn hearing on it is historic.
*settles in to live-tweet*
The subtext: SSI’s been forgotten for so long, even the Senate holding a damn hearing on it is historic.
*settles in to live-tweet*
A little more on the history while we’re waiting for the hearing to start:
—The last Senate hearing on SSI was in 1998.
—And the last Senate hearing on the need to update SSI’s eligibility criteria was in 1987—in a hearing that even then was titled “The Forgotten Safety Net.”
—The last Senate hearing on SSI was in 1998.
—And the last Senate hearing on the need to update SSI’s eligibility criteria was in 1987—in a hearing that even then was titled “The Forgotten Safety Net.”
.@SenSherrodBrown opening the hearing by making exactly that point: “‘The Forgotten Safety Net’ was a fitting title then, and even a more fitting title now given the decades of neglect.” #DemolishDisabledPoverty
HUGE #DemolishDisabledPoverty news:
As @SenSherrodBrown @SenWarren & other Dems continue to push to include long-overdue SSI updates in #BuildBackBetter, the Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing on the need to update SSI *next week*!
**Deets👇
finance.senate.gov/hearings/polic…
As @SenSherrodBrown @SenWarren & other Dems continue to push to include long-overdue SSI updates in #BuildBackBetter, the Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing on the need to update SSI *next week*!
**Deets👇
finance.senate.gov/hearings/polic…
Even the hearing is historic given how long SSI has been forgotten by DC lawmakers — this will be the first Senate hearing on the need to update SSI literally in decades.
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
Huge and ongoing appreciation to @SenSherrodBrown—who chairs Senate Finance’s Social Security Subcommittee and pushed to hold this hearing—for tirelessly fighting to ensure SSI beneficiaries don’t get forgotten yet again in #BuildBackBetter.
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
HUGE NEWS: President Biden’s SSI proposals would bring 3.3 million people out of poverty, and cut poverty among SSI beneficiaries *IN HALF*, according to the @UrbanInstitute.
@citizencohn has the scoop: huffpost.com/entry/ssi-upda…
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
@citizencohn has the scoop: huffpost.com/entry/ssi-upda…
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
These jaw-dropping numbers are a stark reminder of what @mattbc and I mean by #DemolishDisabledPoverty—as well as the historic opportunity Democrats have right now to improve millions of lives, as they debate whether to include long-overdue SSI improvements in #BuildBackBetter.
As I told @citizencohn: “The only thing more shameful than how long SSI beneficiaries have already been forgotten would be to leave them behind again now in #BuildBackBetter, on the heels of a pandemic that’s hit disabled people and seniors harder than nearly anyone…”
Fact check: TRUE*
*b/c of an archaic SSI rule called “in-kind support and maintenance” that automatically slashes already-sub-poverty SSI benefits by 1/3rd for beneficiaries who can’t afford their own place.
(The #SSIRestorationAct would end ISM.)
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
*b/c of an archaic SSI rule called “in-kind support and maintenance” that automatically slashes already-sub-poverty SSI benefits by 1/3rd for beneficiaries who can’t afford their own place.
(The #SSIRestorationAct would end ISM.)
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
Quick #DemolishDisabledPoverty aside:
This 👆 is just one example of the long-overdue SSI fixes Dems in the House & Senate are fighting to try to get into the #BuildBackBetter reconciliation bill that the House is drafting as we speak.
This 👆 is just one example of the long-overdue SSI fixes Dems in the House & Senate are fighting to try to get into the #BuildBackBetter reconciliation bill that the House is drafting as we speak.
“Congress has failed to uphold its responsibility to SSI recipients by allowing the SSI program to become so outdated that people w/disabilities and seniors are struggling to meet their most basic needs.”
—@RepRaulGrijalva @janschakowsky @RepBowman @AyannaPressley @JimmyGomezCA
—@RepRaulGrijalva @janschakowsky @RepBowman @AyannaPressley @JimmyGomezCA
In a joint statement issued today, @RepRaulGrijalva @janschakowsky @RepBowman @RepPressley @JimmyGomezCA are calling on their Ways and Means colleagues to include SSI in the #BuildBackBetter reconciliation bill.
Full statement: admin-grijalva.house.gov/house-members-…
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
Full statement: admin-grijalva.house.gov/house-members-…
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
💯:
“Failure by Democrats to include updates to SSI in the reconciliation package will send a bleak signal to [the disability community].”
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
“Failure by Democrats to include updates to SSI in the reconciliation package will send a bleak signal to [the disability community].”
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
.@rebeccavallas
laying out President Biden's commitments on SSI #DemolishDisabledPoverty facebook.com/thearcus/video…
laying out President Biden's commitments on SSI #DemolishDisabledPoverty facebook.com/thearcus/video…
And now @mattbc! #DemolishDisabledPoverty
Matt talking about the historic nature of SSI reforms being proposed by all Democratic Presidential candidates in 2020 #DemolishDisabledPoverty
SSI was key in helping me gain independence, getting me through college by stabilizing my living conditions, particularly during the long summer months. But it barely covered my rent back then & I incurred a lot of debt. It's time to increase benefits. #DemolishDisabledPoverty
1 of the biggest probs w/ SSI is how much it limits earnings. This significantly affects disabled ppl being able 2 get out of impoverished circumstances. My check was always affected even whenever I was able 2 get small gigs 2 help supplement my income. #DemolishDisabledPoverty
We must raise the income limits & asset limits, which are extremely outdated. The last time it was updated in 30 years. Disabled people can't live on $794 per month with only $2k in assets. Being disabled is expensive & we are holding disabled ppl back. #DemolishDisabledPoverty
1)"[In this] historic moment we can make long-overdue improvements to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The critical component of our nation's Social Security system that has largely been forgotten by lawmakers in Washington for more than 30 yrs."
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
2)"While SSI benefits are incredibly modest maxing out at $740 a month for most of the nation's poorest people with disabilities & seniors, SSI can mean the difference between being able to put food on the table, a roof over your head."- @rebeccavallas #DemolishDisabledPoverty
3)“We need to update our system to reflect the way people live & work today. [SSI] a lifeline for millions of people who are elderly, blind, or disabled. For 60% of recipients, these SSI benefits are their only source of income.” - @SenSherrodBrown
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
#DemolishDisabledPoverty
The @SenateFinance Cmte is holding a hearing this AM on @SocialSecurity's "customer service" during the pandemic.
This may sound boring, but here's the subtext: SSI applications & awards are at *historic lows* -- and Trump appointees are still running SSA.
So imma live-tweet...
This may sound boring, but here's the subtext: SSI applications & awards are at *historic lows* -- and Trump appointees are still running SSA.
So imma live-tweet...
@SenateFinance @SocialSecurity Up first is Grace Kim, deputy commissioner for operations at @SocialSecurity.
She's trying to paint a rosy picture, saying "reaching vulnerable communities is our priority."
The data say otherwise.
She's trying to paint a rosy picture, saying "reaching vulnerable communities is our priority."
The data say otherwise.
@SenateFinance @SocialSecurity Up next is Kascadare Causeya, Program Manager at Central City Concern in Portland, OR.
He's speaking powerfully about major barriers to access.
Names lack of access to technology as a huge gap, since so much of what SSA has emphasized during the pandemic has been online.
He's speaking powerfully about major barriers to access.
Names lack of access to technology as a huge gap, since so much of what SSA has emphasized during the pandemic has been online.
Looking for hot takes on Biden's #AmericanFamiliesPlan?
@TCFdotorg's got you covered with this round-up of reactions from me, @pelhamprog @JulieKashen @drtaylor09 & more 👇
tcf.org/content/about-…
@TCFdotorg's got you covered with this round-up of reactions from me, @pelhamprog @JulieKashen @drtaylor09 & more 👇
tcf.org/content/about-…
@TCFdotorg @pelhamprog @JulieKashen @drtaylor09 tl;dr on my take:
Together with the #AmericanRescuePlan and the #AmericanJobsPlan, the #AmericanFamiliesPlan represents an historic commitment to addressing America’s shameful and unjust levels of poverty and inequality.
2/
Together with the #AmericanRescuePlan and the #AmericanJobsPlan, the #AmericanFamiliesPlan represents an historic commitment to addressing America’s shameful and unjust levels of poverty and inequality.
2/
@TCFdotorg @pelhamprog @JulieKashen @drtaylor09 On the income security front, there's lots to be excited about in the #AmericanFamiliesPlan -- including:
* making the EITC expansion for "childless" workers permanent
* permanent full refundability of the Child Tax Credit
* historic expansions of school meals, and more.
3/
* making the EITC expansion for "childless" workers permanent
* permanent full refundability of the Child Tax Credit
* historic expansions of school meals, and more.
3/
Thank you so much to the Senators and Representatives who asked President Biden to include long-needed SSI reforms in his legislative agenda for Congress. We were proud to endorse this letter! #DemolishDisabledPoverty bowman.house.gov/_cache/files/b…
The max SSI benefit is just under $800/month & many people with disabilities or older adults live on less than that, barely or unable able to afford the basics of food & shelter. A majority of those relying on SSI are Black, Hispanic, or people of color. #DemolishDisabledPoverty
Resources are limited to $2000, an amount that hasn't been updated since 1984. Rules about income have never been updated. And marriage penalties prevent or penalize people from being with those they love. #DemolishDisabledPoverty
So big news out of Congress!
bowman.house.gov/_cache/files/b…
bowman.house.gov/_cache/files/b…
Led by @RepBowman @SenSherrodBrown @SenWarren @SenSanders @RonWyden, members of Congress wrote to @JoeBiden, asking for SSI provisions of the Biden Disability plan be included in upcoming legislation! #DemolishDisabledPoverty
For people new to disability policy, SSI is how we support the lowest income people with disabilities and older adults. It's an incredibly important program, but one that hasn't been updated in decades.
BREAKING: A coalition of House & Senate Democrats—led by @SenSherrodBrown @JamaalBowmanNY @SenWarren @SenSanders w/@RonWyden—have teamed up to call on @POTUS to include long-overdue updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the #AmericanFamilyPlan 👇
@SenSherrodBrown @JamaalBowmanNY @SenWarren @SenSanders @RonWyden @POTUS The letter calls on @POTUS to #DemolishDisabledPoverty by including his promises on SSI in the next recovery package:
1) increase SSI’s sub-poverty-level benefits to at least 100% of the federal poverty level
2) raise SSI’s asset limit, which has been stuck at $2,000 since 1989
1) increase SSI’s sub-poverty-level benefits to at least 100% of the federal poverty level
2) raise SSI’s asset limit, which has been stuck at $2,000 since 1989
