Before or at the same time as we fix sub-minimum wage, we need to also address the disability benefits cliff. I personally know multiple disabled people that limit how much they are working so that they don’t hit the cutoff where all the benefits disappear, not tail off. Generally these people enjoy their work and are capable of working more, but if they earn a dollar too much, they are screwed, loosing access to a number of subsidies and medical care.
My little brother dealt with that on his SSI and it is total bullshit. He couldn’t work past like 15 or 20 hours a week or they’d take all of his benefits away. They need to either make them tail off slowly or move that cliff back to like $200k/yr.
Also the fact they aren’t allowed to save up money. I think it’s like $2k saved up and they get cut off. That’s not even enough for first last and security deposit if they wanted to try and move to a better situation.
I recently read an article describing how when disabled people have too much in their savings accounts or try to pay off outstanding debts, they are ordered to repay years worth of benefits. We can fix this! Peer-reviewed study after per-reviewed study (in theory and practice) has shown it costs less to just do the right things and look after each other (whether we think it’s deserved/earned/insert other term here) or not. We can fix it. It’s a matter of rolling up our sleeves and consistently apply pressure in proper spaces.
Direct action, mutual aid in the meantime. For everyone.
This will be unpopular:
Before or at the same time as we fix sub-minimum wage, we need to also address the disability benefits cliff. I personally know multiple disabled people that limit how much they are working so that they don’t hit the cutoff where all the benefits disappear, not tail off. Generally these people enjoy their work and are capable of working more, but if they earn a dollar too much, they are screwed, loosing access to a number of subsidies and medical care.
My little brother dealt with that on his SSI and it is total bullshit. He couldn’t work past like 15 or 20 hours a week or they’d take all of his benefits away. They need to either make them tail off slowly or move that cliff back to like $200k/yr.
Also the fact they aren’t allowed to save up money. I think it’s like $2k saved up and they get cut off. That’s not even enough for first last and security deposit if they wanted to try and move to a better situation.
I recently read an article describing how when disabled people have too much in their savings accounts or try to pay off outstanding debts, they are ordered to repay years worth of benefits. We can fix this! Peer-reviewed study after per-reviewed study (in theory and practice) has shown it costs less to just do the right things and look after each other (whether we think it’s deserved/earned/insert other term here) or not. We can fix it. It’s a matter of rolling up our sleeves and consistently apply pressure in proper spaces.
Direct action, mutual aid in the meantime. For everyone.
Agreed, especially the bolded part. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t do both.