Senator Cassidy, Lankford, Wyden, Brown, Collins and Representative Higgins and Fitzpatrick,

On behalf of the Alliance for Expanding America’s Workforce (AEAW) I would like to express our support for the Social Security Savings Penalty Elimination Act.

AEAW is dedicated to expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities by modernizing the federal government’s procurement processes, direct hiring practices and related policies. The Alliance is focused on modernizing and expanding the AbilityOne Program, in addition to strengthening and exploring other levers of employment like Sections 501 and 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Supplemental security income (SSI) from social security provides vital assistance for millions of Americans. However, the current structure of the SSI program punishes individuals with disabilities from working, saving, and getting married. Individuals with disabilities have been prevented by from achieving financial security and stability because of limitations on savings amounts, which have not been updated in nearly 40 years. Currently, individuals receiving SSI benefits are limited to $2,000 in assets for individuals and $3,000 for couples, penalizing individuals with disabilities for getting married. The Savings Penalty Elimination Act would raise the cap to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples, removing the marriage penalty, and index both savings caps to inflation moving forward.

AEAW is proud to be a voice for expanding employment opportunities for Americans with disabilities, but unless the outdates rules of SSI are changed, people with disabilities will be discouraged from seeking employment for fear of putting their benefits at risk. The federal government must modernize its policies and practices towards SSI and disability employment with the focus of encouraging greater economic participation and upward mobility.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue. ‍

Dwight Davis

President, Alliance for Expanding America’s Workforce (AEAW)

President, Global Connections to Employment (GCE)