Federal and state limits on how much disabled married couples can earn and have in the bank force them to choose between getting married and participating in critical programmes like Medicaid. In addition, New Jersey citizens with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid are excluded from housing and therapy programmes administered by the state Division of Developmental Disabilities.
The asset limit for a single person receiving Supplemental Security Income from the federal government is $2,000, while the maximum for a married couple is just $3,000.
Similar rates in the Medicaid programme harm married couples: The state-run programme caps a single person’s monthly income at $1,133 and their assets at $4,000. These amounts only increase to $1,526 and $6,000 for a couple.
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Wednesday, couples with disabilities gathered at Montclair State University to reaffirm their commitment to one another and the struggle for equality in order to bring attention to these inequalities. These are their vows:
- We would like to get married and be able to buy groceries.
- We would like to be married and be able to get our medicines.
- We would like to get married and be able to save money for retirement.
- We would like to get married and be able to own a home.
- We would like to get married and be able to see the doctor.
- We would like to get married and keep our benefits.
- We would like to get married and be able to live in the same house.
- We would like to get married and be able to raise a family.
- We would like to get married and be able to get paid a fair wage.
- We would like to get married and have life insurance.
- We would like to get married and be able to pay the rent and bills and not end up living in a cardboard box.
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