Joseph Shapiro

Give it a whoop whoop. The U.S. Capitol was gleaming in the background over a stage with a large heart of red and pink flowers.

Well, I spoke to about three dozen people. One of the saddest things many people told me is that they make the painful decision to close themselves off from dating, from love, romance, altogether. because they can't afford to fall in love with someone and risk losing their SSI.

Well, I spoke to about three dozen people. One of the saddest things many people told me is that they make the painful decision to close themselves off from dating, from love, romance, altogether. because they can't afford to fall in love with someone and risk losing their SSI.

Well, I spoke to about three dozen people. One of the saddest things many people told me is that they make the painful decision to close themselves off from dating, from love, romance, altogether. because they can't afford to fall in love with someone and risk losing their SSI.

One woman told me she felt forced to divorce her husband in order to keep the health care that came with her SSI eligibility. They still live together without a marriage license, but even that could get them in trouble with Social Security. Social Security calls that holding out to live as if you're married, even though you're not legally married.

One woman told me she felt forced to divorce her husband in order to keep the health care that came with her SSI eligibility. They still live together without a marriage license, but even that could get them in trouble with Social Security. Social Security calls that holding out to live as if you're married, even though you're not legally married.

One woman told me she felt forced to divorce her husband in order to keep the health care that came with her SSI eligibility. They still live together without a marriage license, but even that could get them in trouble with Social Security. Social Security calls that holding out to live as if you're married, even though you're not legally married.

So even though they spend all their time together, they still need to rent separate apartments. And when a state caseworker visits, the woman told me she takes down all the photos around the house of her with her partner.

So even though they spend all their time together, they still need to rent separate apartments. And when a state caseworker visits, the woman told me she takes down all the photos around the house of her with her partner.

So even though they spend all their time together, they still need to rent separate apartments. And when a state caseworker visits, the woman told me she takes down all the photos around the house of her with her partner.

For sure. The people I talk to say that they're blocked from a right that's given to everyone else. And just to step back for a moment, there's been a revolution in the expectations for disabled people's lives since SSI was created in 1972. It wasn't until 1975, three years after SSI was created, that the first law passed to guarantee kids with disabilities could go to school.

For sure. The people I talk to say that they're blocked from a right that's given to everyone else. And just to step back for a moment, there's been a revolution in the expectations for disabled people's lives since SSI was created in 1972. It wasn't until 1975, three years after SSI was created, that the first law passed to guarantee kids with disabilities could go to school.

For sure. The people I talk to say that they're blocked from a right that's given to everyone else. And just to step back for a moment, there's been a revolution in the expectations for disabled people's lives since SSI was created in 1972. It wasn't until 1975, three years after SSI was created, that the first law passed to guarantee kids with disabilities could go to school.

And SSI was created almost 20 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act, which in 1990 banned discrimination against people with disabilities to make sure they could have the same ambitions as everyone else to be fully integrated into American life. And that includes, by the way, the right to find meaning in work.

And SSI was created almost 20 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act, which in 1990 banned discrimination against people with disabilities to make sure they could have the same ambitions as everyone else to be fully integrated into American life. And that includes, by the way, the right to find meaning in work.

And SSI was created almost 20 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act, which in 1990 banned discrimination against people with disabilities to make sure they could have the same ambitions as everyone else to be fully integrated into American life. And that includes, by the way, the right to find meaning in work.

Right. So to be clear, very few people on SSI are able to work. Less than 10% do work. And most of them are in low-paying part-time jobs. But some do work, and SSI has rules around work. And those are stuck in another era, too. So there's a limit on how much someone on SSI can earn in one month. It's just $65. More than $65 in a month? SSI reduces their benefit check.

Right. So to be clear, very few people on SSI are able to work. Less than 10% do work. And most of them are in low-paying part-time jobs. But some do work, and SSI has rules around work. And those are stuck in another era, too. So there's a limit on how much someone on SSI can earn in one month. It's just $65. More than $65 in a month? SSI reduces their benefit check.

Right. So to be clear, very few people on SSI are able to work. Less than 10% do work. And most of them are in low-paying part-time jobs. But some do work, and SSI has rules around work. And those are stuck in another era, too. So there's a limit on how much someone on SSI can earn in one month. It's just $65. More than $65 in a month? SSI reduces their benefit check.

It takes $1 for every $2 they earn. So, in effect, that's a tax of 50% on some of the poorest people in America.