As reported earlier in The New Leaf, Congress has not yet eliminated the basic entitlement to SSI but has instead chosen to eliminate or restrict benefits to specific groups. Both houses of Congress have passed legislation toward this goal. Although the final details will not be known until a unified bill emerges from the conference committee, the general outline of these cutbacks is clear. SSI for disability will no longer be available for those whose disability is based at least in part on drug or alcohol addiction. Legal immigrants will be barred from SSI except in very limited circumstances. Finally, while the status of cash SSI benefits for disabled children is still undecided, the standards of disability will almost certainly be tightened. Once the final version of this legislation emerges from the conference committee and is passed by both houses it will be sent to President Clinton for signature or veto. While these changes only target certain groups, they may preview even further restrictions in Social Security and SSI disability benefits in the future. For example, House Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Jim Bunning (R-Ky) is expected to introduce legislation soon which would limit the length of time certain individuals will receive benefits. Also, such legislation would eliminate the right to appeal a disability claim denial in federal court.
Meanwhile for those trying to live on SSI, the California state legislature has for the fourth straight year reduced the State's contributions to SSI. This year's reductions will primarily affect individuals living in another's household and married couples. The cuts will take effect in December.
The Republican majority in Congress contends that spending cuts are necessary to balance the federal budget. To put the overall Republican program in perspective, however, consider that federal expenditures for SSI disability and blind benefits totaled $17.89 billion last fiscal year. Meanwhile the budget proposal put forth by the Republican majority includes $245 billion in tax cuts, $1.4 billion for ships the Navy has not asked for and over $2 billion for next year's development of the F-22 fighter plane which the General Accounting Office has concluded should be postponed until the 21st century.
If cuts in programs that serve the disabled and the poor bother you,
remember that politics is not a spectator sport. Contact your Congressperson.