|
Older adults across the nation are fighting for their economic security. They face numerous threats in 2017 as Congress moves to make drastic cuts to the safety net they rely on to meet their basic needs and access health care.
In response, Justice in Aging is launching a new SSI Improvement and Protection Project. Under this project, we will be able to fight even harder for the economic security of low-income older adults, with a particular focus towards helping low-income seniors use SSI benefits to avoid or escape homelessness. Low-income seniors are especially at risk as the new Congress moves to cut funding and restrict benefits for programs administered by the Social Security Administration. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is one such program that provides a basic monthly income to those seniors and people with disabilities with no or very few other assets. SSI is a program of last resort for millions of seniors that will only become more important in the coming years as more seniors age into poverty.
We'll be using all of the tools at our disposal to protect and improve the SSI program for seniors. We're creating more SSI trainings and materials, and working in coalition with partners in the hunger, homelessness, and healthcare spaces to build a larger national network of advocates who can help older adults access SSI. We're also increasing our legislative advocacy and litigation capacity to protect SSI and make the program more responsive to the needs of older adults in poverty.
In addition to our work at the federal level and with advocates across the country, our project will have a special California focus. We are hiring an additional attorney in our Los Angeles office to help us increase the tailored trainings and resources we create for California's SSI advocates. We will also be addressing problems that impact California seniors' access to SSI in particular. And we will continue our collaboration with Californians for SSI to fully restore the State Supplemental Payment.
Stay tuned for more regular communications about our SSI efforts, more materials and trainings you can use in your work, and more information about how you can help us fight for low-income seniors!
|
|
|
|
Posted on behalf of Barbara Finch, Children & Adult Network Director
Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services
Posted on behalf of Barbara Finch, Children & Adult Network Director