The Intersection of Poverty and Disability
In the fall of 2018, my stress-inducing journey of applying for SSI (Supplemental Income) began with much hesitation. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much foreknowledge about the process or the toll it takes on your physical and mental well being. I recall walking into the Social Security office and instantly noticing the small cramped waiting area and linoleum floors. Workers and patrons sat with unsatisfactory looks on their faces while we all waited for the process to be over.
Two years later, and I’ve finally come to the end of the yellow brick road. But it’s not flourishing with green pastures as I’d hoped but filled with paper mounds that would make an environmentalist cringe in disbelief. It’s odd as no one prepares you for the emotional, financial, and mental trauma you experience at the hands of federal judges, lawyers, and doctors. If you are not qualified or “Disabled enough” in their eyes, then your need for aid grows exponentially. Though, now that I receive funding from the government, my financial burdens are non-existent, correct? False. After going through the process myself, I’ve challenged my ideas about federal aid. Are the programs in place to cater to Disabled people’s needs? Or is it a weapon used to assist in keeping a marginalized group in poverty?
From the perspective of some working-class members of society, Disability must look luxurious as people always fumble into displaying their resentment towards the “financial benefits” we receive. As though their ability to work and provide for their families is unfair and unjust. They are unaware of how lowly it feels to have the government dictate your worth solely based on your contribution to fueling our economy. A capitalist-driven country identifies one’s inability to work as a hindrance to our economy. Which hinders and has lasting effects on millions of Americans with Disabilities. A flourishing or flowing economy is what America craves. So I want to focus on the socio-economic aspects of Disability and poverty.
The question I promote to you is: How does Disability remain a taboo topic in a society that craves inclusion and diversity? A large proponent is due to American culture, denying Disabled people the right to live without disdain or ridicule for merely existing. Historically, anyone who was unlike the leaders could become ostracized and labeled as such. For example, religious leaders, politicians, and the education system have all been influenced throughout history by the eugenics movement. The eugenics system became wildly popular during the Nazi Regime without much thought into the humanities or ethics. Eugenics is a belief system equating genetics, race, and genealogy to justify a hierarchial ideology based solely on external factors. Due to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Disabled Americans were granted emancipation under federal law to no longer be susceptible to discrimination. However, that law benefited Abled-bodied people and attributed to security. Disabled people remain in un-accessible housing, discrimination in healthcare, and a federal government that allows employers to pay Disabled workers $6.25 less than their Abled-bodied peers.
Millions of corporations are unwilling to pay their employees reasonably; Disabled patrons require financial stability, if not more, due to their Disability. Normalcy is what we crave, yet we are always meet with judgment and inequitable job requirements. That is where government assistance (full disability, Supplemental Income, etc.) plays a key role. Many cannot conform to eight-hour workdays, much less a job without adequate healthcare coverage — monthly supplemental income payments for 2020 is $783- $522 a month. But this monthly stipend, if you will, is unreasonably low. So, I’ve made a list similar to a few of my essential items:
-Food: $100
-Medicine: $40–60
-Shelter: $400–700 dollars depending on location
This list doesn’t include doctor’s copays or medical bills on the verge of entering collections, hygiene products, travel expenses, etc. By the end of any given month, the remaining balance is slim or gone altogether. Which leaves Disabled people left choosing between what is essential and what’s a necessity. Although this chart doesn’t cater to each person receiving aid, the general idea remains the same; in 2020, adequate rights for Disabled people are still a novelty.
My need for financial stability greatly surpasses my ability to work in my current condition as the job market cannot be liable for any injuries or missed workdays. Although most of my days consist of medical-related issues such as appointments, phone calls to insurance, and researching, the better half of my day revolves around daily house chores. We receive no days off. We routinely care for our bodies and assist those around us regardless of circumstance. Yet, we cannot financially care for ourselves due to a system that doesn’t consider our bodies liable for adequate payments.
Let’s strive for a country that will begin humanizing Disabled people. Allowing us the free will to speak, live, and be without the added financial burden for simply existing.
