Support the SSI Restoration Act of 2026: A Vital Step Toward Sustainability

Subject: Support the SSI Restoration Act of 2026: A Vital Step Toward Sustainability I am writing as your constituent to urge you to co-sponsor and support the SSI Restoration Act of 2026. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is currently operating on outdated rules from the 1970s that trap disabled and elderly Americans in deep, systemic poverty. Currently, SSI benefits place recipients at less than 50% of the federal poverty line. This is not a "safety net"; it is a mandate for deprivation. The SSI Restoration Act is a critical fix for three reasons: • Aligning with Reality: By raising the resource limit to be 100% commensurate with the federal poverty line, we allow recipients to live with basic dignity. • Protecting Healthcare Access: For the vast majority of us, eligibility for medical benefits is tied directly to SSI. Under the current $2,000 asset limit—which hasn't been meaningfully updated in 50 years—disabled individuals are forced to choose between having an emergency savings account and keeping the life-saving medical coverage they require for expenses that far exceed those of the general population. • Long-Term Sustainability: Modernizing SSI isn't just about charity; it’s about the sustainability of the Social Security system at large. When we allow the disabled population to maintain modest savings without being "kicked off" the rolls, we reduce administrative churn and the long-term costs of crisis-based healthcare. Strengthening the foundation of SSI ensures the broader Social Security framework remains robust and responsive to the actual economic conditions of 2026, rather than 1972. While this Act doesn't fix every flaw in the system, it is a significant step in the right direction. I ask that you stand with your disabled constituents and support the passage of this long-overdue legislation.