Cuts to SSI Beneficiaries in PA
Stop the Cuts to Pennsylvania’s Most Vulnerable Citizens
Disabled, blind, and elderly poor face cuts of 19% - 24% in their State Supplemental Payments (SSP) unless the Legislature acts now.
Who receives the SSP?
As of December 31, 2009, 345,000 very low income elderly, severely disabled, and blind Pennsylvanians received the SSP. This includes 67,000 children.
How much is the SSP?
To qualify for the SSP, individuals must receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal benefit for the very poor administered by the Social Security Administration. The maximum SSI grant for an individual is $674/month. For a couple, it’s $1011/month. Until the new cut, the SSP grant provided an additional $27.40/month for an individual and $43.70/month for a couple. In combination, this is well below the poverty level.
How much is the planned state cut to the SSP?
The Department of Public Welfare reduced the SSP for an individual by $5.30/month (down 19%) and by $10.40/month for a couple (down 24%)
When did the SSP cuts take place?
The DPW cut the SSP effective February 2010.
Why is the cut so harmful and unfair?
Individuals living on SSI are among the most vulnerable citizens in Pennsylvania. They are either too disabled or too elderly to work. Their total SSI grants only pay 77.7% of the federal poverty line so every dollar counts. And this year, SSI grants did not receive a cost-of-living allowance. A reduction of $5.30 per month is a missed meal, a medical co-pay that cannot be met, or a paratransit ride that cannot be taken.
How much does Pennsylvania “save” by making these cuts?
Savings is estimated at $9.4 million this fiscal year; $22.9 million in FY 2010-2011.
Who opposes these cuts?
These cuts were first announced on Jan. 16th. A rapidly growing state-wide coalition has come together to advocate for the prompt reinstatement of the SSP benefit. Those organizations include:
AARP Pennsylvania
ACHIEVA
Action Alliance of Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia
AIDS Law Project
ARC of Pennsylvania
Arch Street Presbyterian Church
Broad Street Ministry
Center for the Advocacy Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)
Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania (CILCP)
Coalition for Low Income Pennsylvanians
Community Justice Project.
Community Legal Services
Consumer Health Coalition
Disability Empowerment Center
Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Disabled in Action of Pennsylvania
Homeless Advocacy Project
Jewish Employment Vocational Services Human Services
Just Harvest
Liberty Resources
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Pennsylvania
Lutheran Settlement
Mental Health America—Allegheny County
Mental Health Association of Pennsylvania
Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Mon Valley Unemployed Committee
National Association of Social Workers of Pennsylvania
National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania
Neighborhood Interfaith Movement
Pathways Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans
Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center
Pennsylvania Catholic Conference
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Pennsylvania Council of the Blind
Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living
Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition
Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers’ Association
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council
Project H.O.M.E.
Public Citizens for Children and Youth
Resources for Human Development
Rodeph-Shalom Synagogue
Southeast PA Coalition for Essential Services
United Cerebral Palsy
United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania
Vision for Equality
Women’s Law Project