Bill > AR168

Introduced Session

This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to enact legislation allowing individuals with disabilities to retain federal disability benefits upon marriage. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability related programs known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSI is a need-based program that provides financial assistance to disabled individuals, as well as seniors, with limited income and resources, regardless of their work history. SSDI is based on an individual's work history and the Social Security taxes they have paid. It provides benefits to those who have worked and paid into Social Security for a sufficient number of years but have become disabled and are unable to work. The SSA recently recognized Patrice Jetter and Garry Wickham, subjects of "Patrice: The Movie", a documentary that focuses on the couple's concerns about losing their disability benefits if they were to get married. The film highlights how changes to the asset limit and related marriage rules can only be made by Congress because those have been set by statute. On September 30, 2024 the Social Security Administration issued a public statement acknowledging that some of the policies enforced by the administration are antiquated and should be updated to reflect the modern day needs of individuals living with disabilities and receiving disability benefits. Along with the public statement issued by the SSA on September 30, the SSA enacted three SSI enhancements that is estimated to lead to new or increased SSI payments for hundreds of thousands of Americans with disabilities. In New Jersey, approximately 10.2 percent of the population has a disability. The majority of recipients are disabled workers. In order to implement effective changes to the SSA's policies concerning SSI and SSDI, Congress should take action to enact legislation concerning these two programs that would allow individuals with disabilities to retain their federal disability benefits upon marriage.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Wayne DeAngelo (D)*,  Tennille McCoy (D)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Anthony Verrelli (D)*,  Reginald Atkins (D),  Annette Quijano (D),  Shanique Speight (D), 

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading (on 03/17/2025)

Official Document