Katko’s bipartisan bill protects federal benefits of adults with certain disabilities who marry

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) on March 5 sponsored a bipartisan bill to ensure that the supplemental security income (SSI) benefits of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities won’t be reduced if they get married. 

“People with intellectual or developmental disabilities should not have to choose between marriage and their disability benefits,” Rep. John Katko said. “This bipartisan legislation protects the rights of individuals with disabilities and enables couples to pursue happiness without obstruction.”

The Marriage Access for People with Special Abilities Act, H.R. 1529, is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) and would amend the Social Security Act to clarify that when determining SSI benefits for individuals with such disabilities, only income and resources would be reviewed for one of the individuals. 

If enacted, H.R. 1529 also would make clear that adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities would have access to Medicaid benefits if they qualified for SSI benefits, regardless of income or assets, according to Rep. Katko.

The community of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, added Rep. Keating, “leverages their supplemental incomes to independently further their quality of life and this legislation ensures they have full access to their benefits if their paths include marriage.”

Kandi Pickard, senior vice president of the National Down Syndrome Society, urged all members of Congress to support the bill, saying that “individuals with disabilities deserve the freedom to secure the legal protections of marriage to build loving families and pursue the opportunities that come with the institution of marriage.”

H.R. 1529 has been referred to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.