John,

Did you know that for many Americans with disabilities, getting married could result in losing critical federal benefits, including health care?

That’s because, written into Social Security’s rules, is a “marriage penalty” that cuts or completely strips someone of their disability or Medicaid benefits if they were to marry. This marriage penalty has resulted in marriage rates among Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients to be half that of the general population.

These discriminatory policies have been on the books for years―many since 1972. They also limit the amount of money an individual can put into savings or own in assets. Thankfully, a group of advocates and members of Congress are working to change that.

The SSI Restoration Act (S.2065 and H.R.3824) and the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act (H.R.6405) would end these marriage penalties for people with disabilities. These bills continue the fight people with disabilities have waged for 50 years for equal rights and to be able to live in their own homes and communities and live the same kinds of lives as everyone else.

Click here to send a message to your members of Congress today to advance these critical pieces of legislation that would finally allow people with disabilities to get married and save money, just like everyone else.

These institutionalized, ableist policies are an extension of policies that stem from the eugenics movement beginning in the 19th century and continuing through the 1940s. These sought to segregate individuals with disabilities from nondisabled people, while preventing quality of life.

Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love. Click here to send a message to your members of Congress and urge them to pass the SSI Restoration Act and the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act to end the marriage penalty for people with disabilities.

Thank you for taking action today to demand Congress update our laws that discriminate against millions of people with disabilities.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs