1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. Welcome to Stuff I 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: Never Told You production of I Heart Radio. And as 3 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 1: this classic comes out, we are in the month of 4 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: July twenty twenty five, which is Disability Pride Month, having 5 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: to Net Disability Pride, and we're talking a lot about 6 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: disability and marriage specifically here in the US. And that 7 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: is an episode that we have done kind of recently, 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: but we thought, you know, we've been talking about it 9 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: so much and it's so relevant still to your conversation, 10 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: why not bring it back. Yes, so please enjoy this 11 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: classic episode. Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and Longo 12 00:00:56,040 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: Stuff Never Told You, a production of iHeart Radio. And 13 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 1: today we are doing a listener suggestion from Jude and 14 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,639 Speaker 1: we'll be reading Jude's message in a second about marriage 15 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: and disability because it is Disability Pride Month and this 16 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: is something I think a lot of people don't know about. 17 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: You can see our recent episode on women in disability, 18 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: past episodes on the ADA, the past episode we did 19 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: with Invisible Disability with Eves. We've done a lot of 20 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: stuff around this, but those are a few that came 21 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: to my mind. Also, a note about terminology. I know 22 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: I said this recently. There's not agreement currently on the 23 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: quote correct way to say people with disabilities or disabled people. 24 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: So just a note about that. A lot of people 25 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: use them interchangeably. Some people have really strong opinions and 26 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: they have great reasoning behind those opinions. We're probably going 27 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: to use them based on what the articles we use 28 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: use and also the people are using in context of 29 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: what we're talking about. So just a note. Also a 30 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: note we are not legal experts. No, we have never 31 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: interacted with these services, and they're kind of complicated and 32 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: I would argue purposely so which we're going to talk about. 33 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: But note about that, and just a reminder the disabled 34 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: community is the largest marginalized community in the world and 35 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: a majority of us will experience a temporary disability at 36 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 1: one point. All right, So just to reiterate from our 37 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: recent Monday many on women in disability from the CDC quote, 38 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: about thirty six million women in the US have disabilities 39 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,119 Speaker 1: and the numbers growing. About forty four percent of those 40 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: aged sixty five years are older are living with the disability. 41 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: The most common cause of disability for women is arthritis 42 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: our rheumatism, and from now women with disabilities are particularly 43 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: disadvantaged when it comes to wage equality. In twenty twenty two, 44 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: women who are disabled me seventy two cents for every 45 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: dollar paid to a man who is disabled. Compared to 46 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: the non disabled community, women with disabilities made sixty eight 47 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: cents to every dollar earned by able bodied men. If 48 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: an individual from this community is seeking employment, The current 49 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: hiring rate of women with disabilities between the ages of 50 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: sixteen to sixty four stands at thirty seven percent. Throughout 51 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: the employment process, women can face challenges ranging from organizational 52 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: readiness and inclusivity to accessible employment processes and workplace inclusivity provisions, 53 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: and of course, people of color and black people specifically 54 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: are disproportionately impacted by all of this as well. Okay, 55 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: so let us get on to this listener mail, so 56 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: Jude wrote, I apologize if this has been covered in 57 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: the past. Part of my disability is memory problems from 58 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: ect medical treatment, and I apologize for not thinking of 59 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: this before the month started, because I imagine you record 60 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: a good chunk of episodes significantly in advance. But I 61 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: hate the fact marriage equality does not exist for disabled people. 62 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: I mean, while SSI is not ideal, if you am 63 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: asked more than two thousand dollars in your bank account, 64 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: they'll cut you off. There's a loophole called able accounts, 65 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: but I do not know that much about these, though 66 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: opening one is a goal of mine. It's basically all 67 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: I got because I can't work a normal job. But 68 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: part of it is you cannot get married, gay or 69 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: straight without the risk of losing benefits. I've also heard 70 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: if the government breaking couples apart, they understood they couldn't 71 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: get married with this fact. It's not a happy topic, 72 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: and I apologize for that, but I think it's a 73 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: topic more people need to know about. I am on 74 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: the asexual spectrum, but I'm not completely a romantic or anything. 75 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: I would love to date someone someday, but I don't 76 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: look forward to starting a conversation with Since I'm disabled, 77 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 1: I legally can never marry you. If you're looking for 78 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: that sort of thing, go elsewhere. So because of that, 79 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: I've never tried dating. A few people have dated me 80 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: in the sense of my oblivious ass not knowing it 81 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: was a date until they said something. There's more I 82 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 1: could say, like that my government health insurance doesn't cover 83 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: gender affirming care. So while I am pursuing top surgery. 84 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: I'm going to have to find another way to pay 85 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: for it. If you know of a way for me 86 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: to become a best selling author, you know where to 87 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: find me. Lol. If I did, I would reach out immediately. 88 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: And hopefully it would be with you. 89 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: Hopefully we would be with you. Indeed, please buy her 90 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: book available wherever you get your books, shameless plug. 91 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: Thanks dude, that's so sad. I did not realize I was. 92 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 2: I've heard many people talk about not getting married for 93 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 2: several reasons like this does hurt my benefits for this 94 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: through the dual income thing, But wow, this is a 95 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: whole different level. 96 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: Yes, I had only heard kind of anecdotally about it. 97 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: I never researched into it. And so thank you very 98 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 1: much Jude for sending this to us, because, like I said, 99 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people don't know about it. 100 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: It's very important to talk about. And Jude also sent 101 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: resources which we are going to be referencing throughout this 102 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 1: And like I said, it is a bit of a 103 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: complicated discussion because it involves a few walls and regulations. 104 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: So we're going to break down some of the important 105 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: ones first, all revolving around government benefits, largely federal government benefits. 106 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: Social Security are otherwise that disabled people in the US 107 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: can use based on their ability are not to work. 108 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 1: Oh and just for fun, the rules aren't consistent, so 109 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: that's fun. Yeah, But onwards. 110 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: So this is one of the articles that you sent 111 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: from the Disability Secrets by Bethany K. Lawrence. So one 112 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: is Supplementary Security Income SSI for people with disabilities who 113 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: have very low incomes and those who don't qualify for SSDI, 114 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 2: And in twenty twenty four, the SSI income limit for 115 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: one person is nine hundred and forty three dollars per 116 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: month and for couples it is fourteen hundred and fifteen 117 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: dollars a month. That is not a lot. Social Security 118 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 2: Disability Insurance SSDI for eligible workers who can't work because 119 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 2: of disability, Disabled adult child benefits which are based on 120 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: your parents' earnings record, and surviving spouse benefits which are 121 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: based on that record of your deceased spouse or ex spouse. 122 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: Right, So those are some key terms we're going to 123 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: be using throughout this. But when it comes to this 124 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: question of marriage and how marriage impacts these benefits are doesn't, 125 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: which is what we're specifically looking into We're going to 126 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: go kind of piece by piece. So let's start with SSI, 127 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: Supplemental Security Income, which is the most important in terms 128 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: of this conversation. This was established about fifty years ago. 129 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: Getting married doesn't impact eligibility for SSI, but the spouse's 130 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: income does. So if the spouse in question has an 131 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: income and you live with them, then that does impact 132 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: those receiving SSI because the Social Security Administration or the 133 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: s SA will pin some of the spouse's income to 134 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: the person getting it. 135 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: Right, And I'm pretty sure we'll probably talk about this, 136 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: but this is also the conversation of like domestic violence 137 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 2: being higher and abuse being higher within the disabled communities 138 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 2: because of rules like this. Yeah, just as a reminder, 139 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: this practice is called deeming spousal income. Basically, they quote 140 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: deem that a portion of illegally married spouse spouse's income 141 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 2: to the disabled person in question. They can essentially lower 142 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 2: the SSI or make them ineligible entirely. And reminder, we 143 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 2: pay taxes, yeah that go into this. That has been 144 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 2: for military use, but not for people in our community. 145 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 1: Again, reminder, it's also not limited to legal marriage either. 146 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: It impacts those quote holding themselves out to be married. 147 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: This very much confused me, but it essentially means you're 148 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: presenting yourselves as married and or are essentially married, as 149 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: we would traditionally judge it. Quote. If there's any evidence 150 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: that either of you present yourselves to others as married, 151 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: social security will probe further, asking questions such as, how 152 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: do you introduce the other person in social situations? How 153 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: is mail addressed to you and the other person? Do 154 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: you still use your married name if applicable? Do you 155 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: own your home jointly? If you rent, are both your 156 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 1: names on the lease? Do your bills, bank accounts, and 157 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: tax returns identify you as married? So the SSA could 158 00:09:56,360 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: judge you're pretty much married. I'm guessing that they think 159 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: you're trying to evade the rules by being married in 160 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: all but documentation and lower or remove the benefits of SSI. 161 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: We found a it's a really dry report from two 162 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: thousand and three from the SSA about this, and it 163 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: seemed to hilariously be like, Yep, it's better if you 164 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: don't get married but are living together, but yeah, you 165 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: can't hold out for marriage. They like saying the quiet 166 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: part out loud. 167 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: I mean I think there's a lot of people who 168 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: have that conversation in general about legalities in marriage in general. 169 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: And for those who do want to get married, that's 170 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 2: so absurd. But for those who don't want to get married, 171 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 2: they're like, I'm good with it. I'm one of those 172 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 2: people from Disability Secrets. If you're living with someone but 173 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 2: not married to that person and we're never married, social 174 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 2: Security might count your roommate's income as if you were married. 175 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 2: This could lower your SSI benefit or even make you 176 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 2: ineligible for benefits. But if you're living with a sibling, 177 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 2: a caregiver, or a platonic roommate, the SSA wouldn't consider 178 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,079 Speaker 2: the other person's income. If someone is getting free re 179 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,839 Speaker 2: low board from a person that're living with, this can 180 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 2: cut their SSI buy one third. Yep. 181 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: If both that's the people in question receive SSI, their 182 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: payments are combined and lowered to the couple's rate, which 183 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: is lower than twice the singles rate. So in other words, 184 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: two single people together are getting more, but if you 185 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: become a couple and you get the couple's rate, you're 186 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: getting less. 187 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 2: Just absurd. 188 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it has been called the marriage penalty. So 189 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: This amounts to going from nine hundred and forty three 190 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: dollars a month, which, as you said, Samantha, is very 191 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: very low for a single person, to about seven hundred 192 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 1: and seven dollars a person a month for a married 193 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 1: couple if both are receiving SSI. This also impacts countable 194 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: resources outside of a car, house, and household goods. This 195 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: is reportedly because the SSA believes it's cheaper and easier 196 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: living with another person, but it's basically saying, if you 197 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: marry someone who is making forty thousand dollars a year, 198 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: which is about the federal minimum wage, ish they make 199 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: enough to take care of you completely, which is out 200 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: of touch and wrong and no, sorry, I wish what 201 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: And this isn't taking into account so many things, so 202 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: many things like wage stagnation, the gender pay gap, childcare, 203 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: numerous unpaid and unseen things that go into care or 204 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: rent a, housing control, the difficulty of getting a disability 205 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: friendly job, the difficulty of getting these benefits in the 206 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: first place, the difficulty of understanding how they work, the 207 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: paper work. I'm telling you. When I was researching this, 208 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: my mind was like, oh my gosh, I'm so tired. 209 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 2: The amount of people I've had to advise in social 210 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 2: work to do their disability paperwork twice and to make 211 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 2: sure that you appeal because you will most likely be 212 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 2: denied immediately no matter what. Like my parents, who are 213 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 2: very staunchly conservative and all like I don't want to 214 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 2: take care of anybody else, they had to go for 215 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 2: disability paperwork. They got denied and they were very upset 216 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: because it's like, we would never take advantage of ma'am, ma'am. 217 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 2: And me having to talk to them like you have 218 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 2: to appeal. I don't think they did. I think they 219 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 2: got discouraged and they didn't. I'm like, no, you have 220 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 2: to appeal these paperwork because they are literally stacked against you. 221 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 2: Any kind of paperwork when it comes to a federal 222 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 2: government which for assistance for any of that are probably 223 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 2: some of the most complicated paperwork I have ever seen. 224 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: One of the best things that happened in my college 225 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 2: course was us being given a full form and told 226 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 2: do this as an assignment, and then coming back and 227 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 2: realizing we'd all named mistakes and had to start over again, 228 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: and that what that process looks like, and this is 229 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 2: exactly what they do to try to discourage a person 230 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 2: who is in need. So all of these things is 231 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 2: such a way to hinder and discourage a person from 232 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 2: getting actual assistance which they've probably probably already paid into, 233 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 2: which is the other part that's like uh anyway. Also, yeah, 234 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 2: with all that, children also factor into the equation here. 235 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 2: Each child impacts the numbers in terms of when a 236 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 2: spouse's income is attributed to the person receiving SSI. 237 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: Yes, and speaking of complicated, so it's like a chart 238 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: how many children you have, how much money you'll get 239 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: or won't get. Basically, by getting married, a disabled person 240 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: could receive less or none of the benefits they were 241 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: receiving before. This can mean a huge difference in quality 242 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: of life. Are even the difference between life or death, 243 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: so it's a really big deal. The SSA requires that 244 00:14:55,880 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: those receiving SSI contact them within ten days of marriag 245 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: are new living arrangements. Otherwise they both charge an overpayment, 246 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: which is usually collected by withholding SSI payments, And if 247 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: anyone's dealt with stuff like this before, the interest rate 248 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: if they choose to charge it can be outrageous And 249 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: I feel ten days you're just so stressed during those times. 250 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: I can easily see how that would fall through the cracks. 251 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, people don't even go and get their name change 252 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 2: or get their status change. Some of them don't even 253 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 2: go and get their marriage certificate and turned in. Like 254 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 2: I know that it takes a long time. Women changing 255 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 2: their last name. Oh my gosh, it's a damn process. 256 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 2: So this, Yeah, it. 257 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: Feels like you would have to with the mail being 258 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: what it is, so you would have to mail it 259 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: pretty much immediately right for it to rip in time, right. 260 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: And they probably don't given you notice that tell you 261 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 2: that you did that, because the IRA sure doesn't. So 262 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: you're like, I don't know if it went in or not. 263 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 2: I got I hope. 264 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: So directors cross a situation. 265 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: If they want to take home more money from me. Thanks. 266 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 2: So here's a quote from nineteenth News. Qualifying for SSI 267 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 2: is important even for people with significant disabilities who can work, 268 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 2: because eligibility is tied to being able to receive home 269 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 2: and community based services covered by Medicaid. In many states, 270 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 2: Medicaid is the only health insurance that provides in home care, 271 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 2: and the average cost ranges from fifty one thousand to 272 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 2: seventy thousand per year. According to the Government Accountability Office, 273 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 2: even most people making middle class income and salary jobs 274 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 2: cannot afford the level of care out of pocket. And again, 275 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 2: as someone who has experienced trying to get care for 276 00:16:54,800 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 2: people and assistance for people, it is incredibly expensive amount 277 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 2: of cost per hour, and they charge per hour, and 278 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 2: it could be as simply and it's based on the provider. 279 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 2: And by the way, it's the limited amount of people 280 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 2: that are providers is so small that it's probably one 281 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 2: of the most discouraging things I've ever seen in my 282 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 2: life because the likelihood that these people are qualified for 283 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 2: very specific things are low to zero. I've never been 284 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 2: more frustrated in my life than trying to get accessible 285 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 2: care for those who are desperately in need who are 286 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 2: on Medicaid. And y'all, to get on Medicaid, you have 287 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 2: to be in the poverty level essentially, which is also 288 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 2: another problem because you want to live and free yourself. 289 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 2: So there's so many complications to this, and if you 290 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 2: get too much assistance, by the way, it can stack 291 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 2: against you. Yes, so much of this So just getting 292 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 2: that I can't imagine, because in home camera is probably 293 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 2: one of the most expensive ways outside of being in 294 00:17:55,640 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 2: an institution that is actually qualified with true amount of 295 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:06,399 Speaker 2: medical professionals who can actually cater to their clientele. So 296 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 2: what I mean by that is like having one doctor 297 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 2: of per three patients, is that of one doctor per 298 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 2: one hundred patients type of thing. So it's incredibly difficult. 299 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 2: And the amount of people who the good ones who 300 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 2: stop providing services for Medicaid because they've had, god, had 301 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 2: so many run arounds with the government and not being 302 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 2: able to do that for them for people, as you 303 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 2: can tell, I could keep going, but it's one of 304 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 2: the most frustrating, disheartening and honestly, it does feel like 305 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: it's a bit of eugenics within the government when it 306 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 2: comes to stuff like this. 307 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, we'll touch on that more briefly in a second. 308 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: But this has been continues to be a big point 309 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: of conversation because we have people in government that are 310 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: seeing things like I understand, I can go days without 311 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: this necessary piece of life. I don't know why we 312 00:18:58,320 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: have to. 313 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 2: It's not like I go back to my regular life 314 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 2: after the one day I tried to see what this 315 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 2: felt like. 316 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: Right, Oh makes me mad? And yeah, like you're saying 317 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: those those home care hours are huge, and there's so 318 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: many it's so important, and in many cases it's about 319 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: like human dignity and the cost of losing that and 320 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: the cost of providing that. And on top of this, 321 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: we need to have another conversation about how we pay 322 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: workers for doing this, because there is a reason there's 323 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: so much burnout and it's not compensated or respected like 324 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: it should. 325 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 2: Be, you know, as in fact, most of the times 326 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 2: that the workers are there, they're unqualified. And I don't 327 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 2: see that as I'm not saying that as a slap 328 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 2: to those who are in there in the field. What 329 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 2: I'm talking about is in general, they're so unwilling to 330 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 2: pay the people that what they're worth that they're willing 331 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 2: to hire people who are not qualified to do it. 332 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 2: So maybe have one or two like ten hour courses 333 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,919 Speaker 2: and then they come in as an assistant without like 334 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 2: any conversations. Like I've had friends who would do part 335 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 2: time jobs as college students being pair of pros, so 336 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 2: they assist those with disabilities in schools and try to 337 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 2: be like active advocates and all that, but they're not 338 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 2: really qualified. They're just sometimes college students who just need 339 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 2: extra money, which means they're not giving the care. Not 340 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 2: not everyone, because there are those who really do care 341 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 2: and love their job and love the people they're representing. 342 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 2: So not saying that, but the qualifications are so low 343 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 2: that any almost anyone can do it. So it's kind 344 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 2: of like, is this really helping? Are you just throwing, 345 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 2: like you know, a band aid over a huge gap 346 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,679 Speaker 2: of needs, And which is also often why a lot 347 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 2: of the kids in the system that have any type 348 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 2: of disabilities, learning disabilities, any of that, are left behind 349 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 2: because again, no one is really qualified to represent them 350 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 2: and advocate for them, and they don't know how. That's 351 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,919 Speaker 2: that other conversations like the parents don't know how, so 352 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 2: the pair of pros definitely don't know how oftentimes, So 353 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 2: I say this with like having seeing that and then 354 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 2: although imposing all these things on top of that and 355 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 2: not allowing for people with disabilities to have the life 356 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 2: that they want. It's just such an odd thing. And 357 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 2: so having these workers who are not qualified because they 358 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 2: don't care enough to teach and or give them the 359 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 2: qualifications that they need, and then the ones that are 360 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 2: so good at it, and the ones who are caring 361 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 2: and the ones who do go beyond to learn about it, 362 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 2: are burned out, like you said, and it's all literal 363 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 2: minimum wage because that's the only the most maybe is 364 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 2: like twelve dollars an hour. And this is for the 365 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 2: sake of someone else's livelihood, Like it's like question mark. 366 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, a lot of big question marks in this one. 367 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: So that is SSI. Let us talk about SSDI or 368 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 1: Social Security Disability Insurance. Okay, So, if someone has worked 369 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: long enough to qualify for SSDI, getting married shouldn't affect 370 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 1: There are their spouse's benefit payments. There aren't income limits, 371 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: There aren't property limits like there are with SSI. Now, 372 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: if someone gets both SSDI and SSI, that can change 373 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 1: the answer that being said. If a person is collecting 374 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: SSDI from someone else based on their work, marrying or 375 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 1: other things can impact the benefit amount. So here are 376 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,159 Speaker 1: a couple of common examples of that. An adult child 377 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: receiving benefits from their parents SSDI based on their parents 378 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:42,159 Speaker 1: work record will probably lose the SSDI benefits. By getting married. 379 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 1: Children can lose their parents SSDI dependence benefits based on 380 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: a couple of things, including turning eighteen or nineteen depending 381 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: or getting married. Another big example, widowers are eligible for 382 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: receiving their partners SSDI if they were eligible. However, if 383 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: you're young longer than sixty, are younger than fifty and 384 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: don't have a disability, and you remarry those benefits, stop, 385 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: which I think again is ridiculous because yeah, like you said, 386 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,159 Speaker 1: you put work and money into this, Like wow, okay, 387 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: it goes away right all right? And just to note here, 388 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: I know we joke about it on the show. You 389 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 1: can hear it in our voices because we laugh when 390 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: we feel helpless. Our healthcare system in the US is 391 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: a mess at best at best. And this isn't to 392 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 1: say there aren't amazing people working in it, working to 393 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: change it. We've heard from some of you, we know 394 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: some of you, and you're amazing, and you do so 395 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: much in the face of so much. But in this case, 396 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:50,199 Speaker 1: what we're talking about specifically here is some of the 397 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: routine medications and procedures or visits for people receiving SSI 398 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:58,159 Speaker 1: or SSDI are thousands, if not tens of thousands of 399 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 1: dollars a month. And we know all about private insurance 400 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,439 Speaker 1: and how they try to get around covering people with 401 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 1: pre existing conditions, legal or not. It's not supposed to 402 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: be legal, but I feel like they still get away 403 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:13,439 Speaker 1: with it. And this includes a spouse's insurance, which seems 404 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: to be a big part of what underpins this marriage penalty. 405 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,680 Speaker 1: Which we also know if you're depending on your spouse's 406 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: private insurance, that that can look pretty grim as well. 407 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 1: So it's really really expensive ultimately, as what I'm saying, 408 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: and most of us, I would say almost all of 409 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: us couldn't afford it. So Jude also sent us an 410 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 1: NPR story from twenty twenty two called millions of disabled 411 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 1: Americans could lose federal benefits if they get married, by 412 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: Erica Mahoney that, in very MPR fashion, has a very 413 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: specific personal story while also telling like a much larger 414 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: story in it, Mahoney interviews Congressman Jimmy Panetta of California, 415 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 1: who had recently introduced the Marriage Equality for Disabled Built 416 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: Act in the US House of Representatives. Other states like 417 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 1: Ohio and Louisiana fallis suit. I feel like all of 418 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:14,680 Speaker 1: them have been stalled. But please let me know if 419 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: that's not true, and they dive into how these laws 420 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: and rules were written. It was just assumed people with 421 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,679 Speaker 1: disabilities wouldn't get married, which is an incredibly ablest idea 422 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: that we've talked about before and also holds the kind 423 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: of infantilizing and desexualizing of people with disabilities within it, 424 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: but also a long history of violence and control. It's 425 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,880 Speaker 1: also true the idea used to be that one person, 426 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: the man in a very heterosexual sense, was the breadwinner 427 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 1: who took care of the wife, who did all the housekeeping. 428 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: This is no longer the case and really not possible 429 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 1: for a lot of people. Almost everyone I know that's 430 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: in a couple can only exist based on dual income. 431 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 1: It's just really antiquated. And yes, we need to address 432 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:09,439 Speaker 1: why single income homes are so unrealistic now too, and 433 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: pay people who take care of kids. Having kids is. 434 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 2: Expensive, right, I think it's just such a weird fault 435 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 2: of like again in a world where our country specifically 436 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 2: is like we need to care for the children, but 437 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 2: not really few and you take it on your own. 438 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 2: You're on your own. It's gotten like this level of 439 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,880 Speaker 2: disconnect where you think, well, now they have children, and 440 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,479 Speaker 2: you're pushes for more children to be born because that's 441 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 2: your thing. Apparently, how are you going to help? 442 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, And there's like so many things that we've talked 443 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: about very briefly or mentioned very briefly in this that 444 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 1: I'm like, well, at the very least, you could do 445 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: something to raise the like our pay what we get. 446 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: You could do something to prevent housing and rent going wild. 447 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 1: They're like so many small things. 448 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 2: How about what you can do We save the environment 449 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 2: and help the environment so our children don't grow into 450 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 2: this horrible, horrible healthscape with no access to anything because 451 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 2: you know, beaches are being closed off because of bacteria 452 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 2: that's growing because of climate change and pollution. We can 453 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 2: do about that, y'all. But yeah, on top of that, 454 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 2: if every child is special and unique and has all 455 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 2: these things, then we need to treat each child as 456 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 2: a special case and provide exactly what is needed, including 457 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 2: whatever medical care they need, and without grumbling and without 458 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 2: fighting and without overcharging. Mm hmmm, that would be awesome too. 459 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 2: And here and just like one more reminder here, disability 460 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 2: in this country is expensive and very very expensive. Another 461 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 2: story we read estimated that without Medicaid provided through SSI, 462 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 2: the person in question would have to pay one hundred 463 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 2: thousand to two hundred thousand a year for in home business. Yeah, 464 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 2: that's the number. I was looking for, honestly, because fifty 465 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 2: to seventy with medicaid is pretty generous. I think even 466 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 2: with Medicaid it would probably hit to the one hundred 467 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 2: thousand grand a year, especially if it's like in home care, 468 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 2: consistent in home care. 469 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:26,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it depends on so many factors too, but 470 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: it's expensive that we can say for sure. And going 471 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: back to another point that you mentioned, Samantha, another part 472 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: of this whole thing is this overblown and politicized fear 473 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: of fraud that people are essentially trying to gain the 474 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 1: system and that people with disabilities are lazy and aren't trustworthy, 475 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: not worthy. Honestly, and not only is that completely wrong, 476 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: it was clear and doing this research, as I said, 477 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 1: how difficult every step of this is, from getting the 478 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: benefits to proving that you need them, to keeping them right. 479 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 2: Just as a reminder, to lose disability, it doesn't pay anything, literally, 480 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 2: like you have to be so on top of everything 481 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: that you may not even get a notice that you're 482 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 2: about to be dropped. 483 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: Yes, there have been a lot of news stories about 484 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: that lately. Here's a quote from Forbes. As disability scholar 485 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 1: Ari Niemann recently noted In a New York Times article 486 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: on how benefits are confusing by design, the sheer complexity 487 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 1: of these different rules are, like most disability benefits rules, 488 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 1: kafka esque, Intentionally or not, they further penalize people who 489 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 1: have less access to accurate information and less ability to 490 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: strategically plan out their finances and legal arrangements. Because obviously, 491 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: if you know about these penalties ahead of time, you 492 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: can avoid them by simply not getting married. It's a 493 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: terrible position and a gut wrenching decision, as anyone who 494 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: is married or has wanted to marry well knows. But 495 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: the penalty itself and the supposed savings to the taxpayer 496 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: is easily avoided. But it's also easily triggered if the 497 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: people involved don't know about it, or if they get 498 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 1: bad advice about it. In a sense, the government hopes 499 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: in part to save money by disabled people accidentally triggering 500 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 1: these benefits reductions. 501 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 2: Right again, a guy actor. But they also hope they 502 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 2: can just kill them off. It's eugenics legitimately anyway. Can 503 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 2: continue on another. Times articles from twenty sixteen quotes Philip Cohen, 504 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 2: a sociologist at the University of Maryland, College Park, who 505 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 2: knows the overall first marriage rate in the United States 506 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 2: for people age eighteen to forty nine is forty eight 507 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 2: point nine per one thousand, for people with disability is 508 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 2: just twenty four point four. 509 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 1: And yes, as you said, some have even brought up 510 00:30:57,240 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: the dark history of eugenics in this and how this 511 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: intentionally or not seems to discourage disabled people from getting married, 512 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: which is something many people do before I have kids, 513 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: not everybody. It even seems to incentivize divorce, which, when 514 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 1: you put it in context of the whole Christian conservative 515 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 1: push for the nuclear family, seems a little off. Something 516 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: is not right. 517 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, if we follow along those lines and 518 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 2: we know that it comes from an area and background, 519 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 2: it makes a lot more sense. It's true, we laugh 520 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 2: because we're in vain, but yeah, but that's just real. 521 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, yep. And of course there are a lot of 522 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: discussions and disagreements around marriage, but for many it does 523 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: signify acceptance by society, a legal recognition of commitment, something 524 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: someone may have wanted their whole life. And for a 525 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: lot of folks there are substantial government benefits for getting married, 526 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 1: and it seems pretty dup that in this case it's 527 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: the opposite sit If it's a choice between living and 528 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 1: functioning in marriage, then there's no real choices there. And 529 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: I feel like the fact that they have that kind 530 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: of holding out for marriage really drives home the point, right, 531 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: it doesn't even matter if they think that you're basically 532 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 1: a married couple, then that they're going to take those 533 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: benefits away anyway. 534 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 2: Right, literally trying to find any reason to take the 535 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:33,040 Speaker 2: benefits away. 536 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, mm hmm uh. And as I said, for some people, 537 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: this is yeah, this is life or death. This is right. 538 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:44,680 Speaker 2: So for a chunk of people, this is life or 539 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 2: death like endpoint. Because as we've talked about before, and 540 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 2: as it's been said it stated by many disability activists, 541 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:58,720 Speaker 2: being abled body is temporary, whether it's age or whatever whatnot, 542 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 2: being disabled is a reality is going to happen. We 543 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 2: see that again. Like you know, we've talked to you 544 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 2: and I have talked about the fact that our parents 545 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 2: recently had gone to the hospital for different incidents, and 546 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 2: we fear when they fall or when they do something 547 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 2: and are no longer able to care for themselves. The 548 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 2: cost of money just in trying to find in living 549 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 2: care for elderly Yeah, is absurd, and if you if 550 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 2: they are not already like provided by medicare, which is great, 551 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 2: but they're still trying to cut medicare. We saw that 552 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 2: in the state of Georgia. They're trying to cut Medicare 553 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 2: and trying to reason with my parents about like your 554 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:37,080 Speaker 2: governor has done this, but they don't quite see it. 555 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 2: Like they have come to the realization that Medicare is 556 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 2: allowed for them to go get examinations, which I'm really 557 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 2: glad that they have actually taken the opportunity to use 558 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 2: those benefits, but like trying to remind them this is 559 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 2: very very we're on a very like thin line on 560 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 2: whether or not this is going to be accessible in 561 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 2: the future. 562 00:33:55,240 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 1: Yes, and just to note again not legal, but a 563 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,960 Speaker 1: lot of this does relate to in the US when 564 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 1: you get like social Security as an older person as well, 565 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:08,720 Speaker 1: so a lot of it does. 566 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:10,560 Speaker 2: Have right, they're all interlocking. 567 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's just please don't look up do your own research. 568 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:19,160 Speaker 1: I hope this is a good starting off point, but 569 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: like we said, it's confusing. It's purposely designed to be confusing, 570 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:26,840 Speaker 1: and it changes often. It changes often, so I believe 571 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: the numbers be quoted in this was as of twenty 572 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 1: twenty three or twenty twenty four, so it was a 573 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:38,800 Speaker 1: recent change. But yeah, I'm thank you so much, Jude, 574 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 1: yeah for suggesting this. And if there's anything we got 575 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: wrong or could have phrased better, because I was a 576 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:52,839 Speaker 1: little like, wow, this is some dense documentation. Yes, please 577 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:56,239 Speaker 1: let us know and if there are any resources or 578 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: if you have any stories you would like us to share. 579 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:03,240 Speaker 1: I would love to hear here from all of you. 580 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 1: You can email us at Stuffmedia, moom Stuff at iHeartMedia 581 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 1: dot com. You can find us on Twitter at mom 582 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 1: Stuff Podcast. We're also on Instagram and TikTok at stuff 583 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 1: I Never Told You. We're on YouTube and we are 584 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,279 Speaker 1: on public and we have a book you can get 585 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:18,239 Speaker 1: wherever you get your books, where we did talk about 586 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: some of this stuff in there. Thanks as always to 587 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 1: our super producer Christina, our executive producer Maya, and our 588 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 1: contributor Joey. 589 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 2: Thank you. 590 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:26,960 Speaker 1: Thanks to you for listening Stuff I Never Told yous 591 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: direction of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, 592 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:30,720 Speaker 1: you can check out the heart Radio app Apple podcast 593 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:39,920 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.