The changes proposed in HB6640 will directly modify existing statutory language around the definition and implications of marital relationships for Disabled Adult Children. Specifically, the bill aims to allow these individuals to marry without jeopardizing their access to benefits that are essential for their health, security, and livelihood. By removing the marriage-related eligibility restrictions, the bill seeks to facilitate a more equitable treatment of disabled individuals in society, potentially affecting numerous families across the nation who are navigating the complexities of disability and marriage.
Summary
House Bill 6640, titled the 'Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act,' proposes critical amendments to the Social Security Act aimed at securing marriage rights for Disabled Adult Children. The bill seeks to eliminate restrictions that currently affect how marriage impacts the eligibility for federal benefits such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, ensuring that disabled individuals do not lose these critical supports due to their marital status. The legislation's overarching goal is to provide greater dignity and rights in marriage for those with disabilities, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and equal treatment under the law.
Contention
As discussions around HB6640 unfold, several points of contention have emerged. Proponents of the bill argue that it is a necessary step toward ensuring that disabled individuals can enjoy the same rights and benefits as their non-disabled peers. Critics, however, may raise concerns regarding potential unintended consequences, such as financial implications for state and federal support systems. The bill's effects on Medicaid eligibility and the complexities of income eligibility criteria for married disabled individuals are likely to be focal points during debates, as stakeholders weigh the balance between rights and resource allocation.
Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults ActThis bill eliminates certain marriage-related criteria for individuals entitled to Social Security child’s benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).Specifically, the bill removes the requirement that individuals receiving Social Security child’s benefits be unmarried. Those eligible for Social Security child’s benefits generally include the minor children of eligible or deceased workers and disabled adult children (the disabled adult children of such workers for whom the onset of disability occurred before age 22). Under current law, child beneficiaries generally lose their benefits upon marriage to an individual who is not also eligible for Social Security benefits. With respect to SSI, the bill removes the requirement that couples who present themselves as married in their community be considered married for purposes of SSI eligibility. The bill also exempts SSI recipients who are disabled adult children, or who marry disabled adult children, from the general requirement that the income or resources of an SSI recipient’s spouse be considered in an eligibility determination. Further, married disabled adult children and their spouses who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid in a state if they were unmarried must remain eligible for Medicaid regardless of their marriage.