Joseph Shapiro

This summer, I went to meet Tabby Haley at her apartment in New York City, and I watched as her personal care aide spent about 10 minutes getting Haley positioned in front of her computer.

This summer, I went to meet Tabby Haley at her apartment in New York City, and I watched as her personal care aide spent about 10 minutes getting Haley positioned in front of her computer.

This summer, I went to meet Tabby Haley at her apartment in New York City, and I watched as her personal care aide spent about 10 minutes getting Haley positioned in front of her computer.

With Haley's fingers placed on a large trackpad, she can control the computer and run her meeting.

With Haley's fingers placed on a large trackpad, she can control the computer and run her meeting.

With Haley's fingers placed on a large trackpad, she can control the computer and run her meeting.

She says some of her colleagues on the call know she's disabled, but almost no one has any idea of how disabled she is. Medicaid pays for her AIDS, her power wheelchair, and her medicine. No other insurance will do that. But she can only be eligible for Medicaid if she keeps her eligibility for SSI. And that worked fine for Haley for 19 years.

She says some of her colleagues on the call know she's disabled, but almost no one has any idea of how disabled she is. Medicaid pays for her AIDS, her power wheelchair, and her medicine. No other insurance will do that. But she can only be eligible for Medicaid if she keeps her eligibility for SSI. And that worked fine for Haley for 19 years.

She says some of her colleagues on the call know she's disabled, but almost no one has any idea of how disabled she is. Medicaid pays for her AIDS, her power wheelchair, and her medicine. No other insurance will do that. But she can only be eligible for Medicaid if she keeps her eligibility for SSI. And that worked fine for Haley for 19 years.

But earlier this year, her Medicaid didn't get renewed as usual. She didn't get a response at the Medicaid office, so she went to Social Security. And there, she says, a case manager told her, well, why don't you just reapply for SSI? And then Social Security sent her a rejection letter saying she made too much money to qualify for SSI.

But earlier this year, her Medicaid didn't get renewed as usual. She didn't get a response at the Medicaid office, so she went to Social Security. And there, she says, a case manager told her, well, why don't you just reapply for SSI? And then Social Security sent her a rejection letter saying she made too much money to qualify for SSI.

But earlier this year, her Medicaid didn't get renewed as usual. She didn't get a response at the Medicaid office, so she went to Social Security. And there, she says, a case manager told her, well, why don't you just reapply for SSI? And then Social Security sent her a rejection letter saying she made too much money to qualify for SSI.

Which is what Haley says staff at Social Security suggested, that she quit working, that she retire and take disability benefits instead.

Which is what Haley says staff at Social Security suggested, that she quit working, that she retire and take disability benefits instead.

Which is what Haley says staff at Social Security suggested, that she quit working, that she retire and take disability benefits instead.

That's right. Our benefit system, it was set up to take care of people, but not to help them get the support they need so that they can live independent lives, live in the community like Tabby Haley in her own apartment, and to have a job and a career. This summer, Haley took a leave of absence from her job while she appeals SSI's decision, and she's getting benefits for now.

That's right. Our benefit system, it was set up to take care of people, but not to help them get the support they need so that they can live independent lives, live in the community like Tabby Haley in her own apartment, and to have a job and a career. This summer, Haley took a leave of absence from her job while she appeals SSI's decision, and she's getting benefits for now.

That's right. Our benefit system, it was set up to take care of people, but not to help them get the support they need so that they can live independent lives, live in the community like Tabby Haley in her own apartment, and to have a job and a career. This summer, Haley took a leave of absence from her job while she appeals SSI's decision, and she's getting benefits for now.

But there's been no indication that SSI is going to reverse itself. And she's worried that she might end up in a nursing home soon. It's one of the only options for someone who needs hours and hours of care. And Medicaid, they'll pay for that.

But there's been no indication that SSI is going to reverse itself. And she's worried that she might end up in a nursing home soon. It's one of the only options for someone who needs hours and hours of care. And Medicaid, they'll pay for that.