WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a call today hosted by Social Security Works, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released a letter by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and signed by more than 70 national organizations strongly opposing cuts to earned benefits.
“Opponents of Social Security are set on chipping away at social insurance, and unfortunately, they’re starting by targeting our most vulnerable Americans,” said Brown. “Cuts to disability insurance seek to dismantle Social Security all together on the backs of Americans with disabilities, children, and veterans. Today’s letter sends a clear message to Republicans that these cuts don’t stand a chance against those of us who care about retirees and Americans with disabilities.”
Brown has voiced strong opposition to changes to Social Security Disability Insurance that would undermine Social Security for all recipients. When the House of Representatives passed a rule change this year to prevent Congress from using reallocation to rebalance the Social Security trust funds, Brown was one of the first to speak out against the rule.
Three bills have been introduced this Congress that seek to eliminate or reduce concurrent Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. Proposed cuts to concurrent benefits single out SSDI beneficiaries with disabilities, treating them differently from other workers under the UI program.
Opponents of Social Security are first attacking disability insurance as a way to demand structural reforms for the entire Social Security program. Social Security advocates know that an attack on one part of Social Security is an attack on all of Social Security and are standing together to unite against dangerous reforms that could cut benefits for seniors and Americans with disabilities.
Today on the call, Brown was joined by: Nancy Altman, Co-director, Social Security Works;
Rich Fiesta, Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans; and
T.J. Sutcliffe, Director, Income and Housing Policy, The Arc.
Full text of the letter is below.
March 17, 2015
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The Honorable Orrin Hatch Chair, Committee on Finance U.S. Senate 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Sam Johnson Chair, Subcommittee on Social Security Committee on Ways and Means U.S. House of Representatives B317 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Paul Ryan Chair, Committee on Ways and Means U.S. House of Representatives 1102 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 |
The Honorable Jeff Flake U.S. Senate 368 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Joe Manchin U.S. Senate 306 Hart Senate Office Building |
RE: Opposition to proposals to eliminate or reduce concurrent Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits
Dear Chairman Hatch, Chairman Johnson, Chairman Ryan, Senator Flake, and Senator Manchin:
The undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), the Coalition on Human Needs, and the Strengthen Social Security Coalition write to express our opposition to proposals to eliminate or reduce concurrent Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, including the “Social Security Disability Insurance and Unemployment Benefits Double Dip Elimination Act of 2015” (S. 499; H.R. 918) and the “Reducing Overlapping Payments Act of 2015” (S. 343).
SSDI and UI are vital insurance systems established for different purposes. Receiving UI and SSDI concurrently is legal and appropriate. This has been the long-standing position of the Social Security Administration and of the courts. Individuals qualify for SSDI because they have significant disabilities that prevent work at or above Social Security’s Substantial Gainful Activity level (earnings of $1,090 per month, in 2015). At the same time, the Social Security Act encourages SSDI beneficiaries to attempt to work, and those who have done so at a low level of earnings but have lost their job through no fault of their own may qualify for UI. As highlighted in a 2012 Government Accountability Office report, less than one percent of individuals served by SSDI and UI receive concurrent benefits, and the average quarterly concurrent benefit in fiscal year 2010 totaled only about $3,300 (or an average of $1,100 per month).
These extremely modest benefits can be a lifeline to workers with disabilities who receive them, and their families – and as permitted by law are neither “double-dipping” nor improper payments. We are deeply concerned by any prospect of worsening the economic security of workers with disabilities and their families.
In addition, proposed cuts to concurrent benefits single out SSDI beneficiaries with disabilities, treating them differently from other workers under the UI program.
Finally, proposed cuts to concurrent benefits create new disincentives to work for SSDI beneficiaries, by penalizing individuals who qualify for both SSDI and UI because they have attempted to work, as encouraged by law. The creation of a new work disincentive runs directly counter to our shared goal of expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
For these reasons, the undersigned national organizations strongly oppose the “Social Security Disability Insurance and Unemployment Benefits Double Dip Elimination Act of 2015” and the “Reducing Overlapping Payments Act of 2015.” We urge Congress to reject these bills and any similar legislation.
Sincerely,
9to5
ACCSES*
AFL-CIO
Alliance for Retired Americans
Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
American Council of the Blind*
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSME)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)*
Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)
Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs*
Association of University Centers on Disabilities*
Autism National Committee*
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)*
B'nai B'rith International
Brain Injury Association of America*
Campaign for America’s Future
Center for Community Change Action
Center for Effective Government
Coalition on Human Needs
Community Legal Services*
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund*
Easter Seals*
Equal Rights Advocates
Every Child Matters Education Fund
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
Goodwill Industries International*
Health & Disability Advocates*
Justice in Aging*
Latinos for a Secure Retirement
Lupus Foundation of America*
Lutheran Services in America Disability Network*
MomsRising
NAACP
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Alliance on Mental Illness*
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities*
National Association of Disability Representatives*
National Association of State Directors of Special Education*
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators*
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare*
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council on Aging*
National Council on Independent Living*
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)*
National Down Syndrome Congress*
National Employment Law Project
National Employment Lawyers Association
National Industries for the Blind*
National Multiple Sclerosis Society*
National Organization for Women
National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives*
National Priorities Project
National Respite Coalition*
National Women’s Law Center
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
OWL-The Voice of Women 40+
Paralyzed Veterans of America*
Provincial Council of the Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians)
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition
Social Security Works
SourceAmerica*
Special Needs Alliance*
Strengthen Social Security Coalition
The Arc of the United States*
The Jewish Federations of North America*
The John O’Leary Organization
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law*
Union for Reform Judaism
United Cerebral Palsy*
United Spinal Association*
United Steelworkers (USW)
USAction
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)*
World Institute on Disability*
CC:
Original cosponsors, S. 499
The Honorable Daniel Coats
The Honorable James M. Inhofe
The Honorable James Lankford
The Honorable Tim Scott
Original cosponsors, H.R. 918
The Honorable Todd C. Young
The Honorable Mike Kelly
The Honorable Patrick J. Tiberi
The Honorable Diane Black
The Honorable David G. Reichert
The Honorable Charles W. Boustany, Jr.
The Honorable Adrian Smith
The Honorable James B. Renacci
The Honorable Tom Reed
The Honorable Aaron Schock
Members, U.S. Senate
Members, U.S. House of Representatives
* Members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).
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