1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to demand immediate action on the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S.1234 / H.R. 5408). While the Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026, this "increase" is a mathematical illusion for most recipients. The $994 maximum monthly benefit is still well below the federal poverty line, and much of this raise is immediately clawed back by the $202.90 Medicare Part B premium. The most critical issue, however, is the asset limit. It has been frozen at $2,000 for individuals since 1989. In 2026, $2,000 cannot cover a month’s rent and an emergency car repair in most of this country. By refusing to update these limits, the government is forcing disabled and elderly Americans to live in a state of enforced poverty, where saving even a small emergency fund leads to a total loss of benefits. +1 I am asking you to: 1 Pass the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act to raise asset limits to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples. 2 Support the SSI Restoration Act to eliminate the marriage penalty and the "In-Kind Support" rules that punish recipients for receiving help with food or housing from family. 3 Index these limits to inflation so that recipients never again have to wait 35+ years for a policy update. A 2.8% raise is not enough when the underlying system is designed to keep people from ever achieving financial stability. Please prioritize these bills immediately.