Thread by @mayatcontreras

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

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

4) "[We must] strengthen safety nets [so people can] rise out of poverty, [so those with] disabilities, the aging, children have an opportunity to rise out of that poverty and to have some level of security in their lives." - @RepRaulGrijalva #DemolishDisabledPoverty

5)"I couldn’t believe it when I learned how archaic these policies are and how long they have been in place and how we are allowing those with disabilities, our children and those who are most vulnerable to continue to live in poverty." @JamaalBowmanNY #DemolishDisabledPoverty

6)"I cannot believe when I learned that people were being penalized for receiving the gift of groceries or money from a friend or family member. I cannot believe that people were being penalized for marrying the person that they love."- @JamaalBowmanNY #DemolishDisabledPoverty

7)"Supplemental Security Income or SSI is a supplement to Social Security as the name sounds. It is for people with disabilities or elderly people who would otherwise receive no or low benefits from Social Security." @kathleenromig #DemolishDisabledPoverty

7b)"To receive Social Security you need to have a substantial work history and then on the other hand to receive SSI you need to meet these incredibly strict and outdated income and asset limits." - @kathleenromig #DemolishDisabledPoverty

7c)"SSI serves three groups of people. The first group is kids with disabilities. This is really important because SSI is the only income support program for disabled kids." @kathleenromig #DemolishDisabledPoverty

7d)"[Children] do not qualify for Social Security Disability insurance because they don't have the work history that adults could have. The second group is adults w/disabilities and the third group is elderly, again low income elderly." @kathleenromig #DemolishDisabledPoverty

8)"Disabled adults experience poverty at more than 2x the rate of nondisabled adults. This is due to a lot of numerous structural barriers... SSI just provides that stable income that can help offset some of the costs related to disability and accessibility" - @SeeMiaRoll

9)“Until just a few years ago, I personally relied on SSI to make the rent even though the maximum amount of assistance I could qualify for was $750. I wasn't allowed to have more than $2000 in assets." @mattbc #DemolishDisabledPoverty

9b) "It always really struck me that one part of the US government [SSA] was telling me as a disabled American that if I had $2000 in resources, I'd lose SSI help that I desperately needed in order to put food on the table and make the rent..." -@mattbc #DemolishDisabledPoverty

9c) "...while at the same time other portions of the United States government, FEMA, for example, were telling me to save for a rainy day. Have an emergency fund.” @mattbc #DemolishDisabledPoverty

10)"For people w/disabilities, living with a disability is expensive. We call it, "the disability tax". We have to find accessible housing and oftentimes, section 8 housing while it is there, it is not accessible and there are not enough units that are accessible." -@SeeMiaRoll

10a)"So we have to look in other areas to find [accessible] housing in...In fact, there have been studies done, particularly in Chicago, showing that inmates who are coming out of prison are not able to leave prison because of the fact there is no housing available for them.”

11) @mattbc shows slides from @DataProgress demonstrating just how popular across both sides of the aisle updatings SSI is. For example, 64% of all voters are for eliminating current asset caps. #DemolishDisabledPoverty

12) 72% of all voters are for eliminating cuts to monthly benefits for SSI Beneficiaries who receive some kind of help. As @RepBowman states, this type of help is simply "mutual aid" and shouldn't be penalized. #DemolishDisabledPoverty

13) 77% of all voters support updating SSI's Income rules. #DemolishDisabledPoverty

14) 79% overwhelmingly support increasing monthly SSI Benefits. #DemolishDisabledPoverty

15)"You need 60 votes to break
that filibuster in order
to change SSDI
...
That's why today's focus
is on SSI because with SSI
it can be done
through budget
reconciliation you can do
it with 50+1." - @kathleenromig #DemolishDisabledPoverty

16) "We
definitely expect to see
this bill reintroduced.
As we heard from
Representative Grijalva and Senator Brown, they are
champions in modernizing
SSI." @TraceyThomGron #DemolishDisabledPoverty

16a) "They are working hard
behind the scenes, in
front of the scenes everywhere to make sure we
get support for members of
Congress to make this bill
– make the bills within
this bill a reality." @TraceyThomGron #DemolishDisabledPoverty

16b) "
We would love
for people to show their
support, reach out to
their Congress members and
tell them that SSI is
important." @TraceyThomGron #DemolishDisabledPoverty