As a person with a disability, receiving Supplemental Security Income has been both a blessing and a curse. SSI is monthly, government-funded payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have limited income or resources. I am grateful for the support it provides me, but the program’s rules simultaneously make it difficult to achieve financial independence.

One of the biggest challenges is the low asset limit. Under current rules, I cannot have more than $2,000 total in my name without risking my benefits. For married couples, the limit is $3,000. These numbers have not changed since 1989, despite the cost of living significantly increasing since then.

For people like me who dream of being financially independent while having a disability, these restrictions can feel like walking a tightrope.

On April 1, Illinois Representative Danny K. Davis introduced H.R.2540, the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act into Congress. If passed, this bill would raise SSI asset limits to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples starting next year. Even better, the limits would adjust for inflation each year, meaning they would remain useful over time.

The bill also addresses another important issue: the so-called “marriage penalty.” Right now, if one spouse receives SSI and the other does not due to their employment, SSI combines their incomes. Married couples can only have $3,000 total, which is not a livable amount for two people. H.R.2540 would end this penalty, allowing married couples to keep $20,000 in combined assets without jeopardizing their benefits.

For many people, including myself, this change would remove a painful financial barrier to getting married, while still maintaining the financial support we rely on.

The bill is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Ways and Means. If it passes, it would be the first major update to the SSI asset limits in more than 35 years.

Saving money for the future is important to me, but living in a city like Los Angeles where housing and rent costs are high, under the current $2,000 limit, it is nearly impossible for me to do so without risking my benefits.

The average rent for an apartment in L.A. is approximately $2,685 per month, making it difficult to find affordable housing, especially for those on fixed incomes.

To try to manage this reality, I opened an Achieving a Better Life Experience account, which is designed to allow individuals with disabilities to save more without affecting SSI eligibility. I am extremely grateful to have that option because without having an ABLE account, I would be unable to pay my rent.

While having an ABLE account enables me to pay my rent, there is still a $19,000 annual limit of how much a person can contribute, as well as an account balance limit of $100,000 at which eligibility for SSI benefits can be affected.

With such high rental costs, the current SSI asset limits make it impossible to save for even a single month’s rent without jeopardizing essential benefits. Accordingly, we need policy updates that reflect today’s economic realities.

If the asset limits are updated through the new bill, I would not have to be as cautious about every single dollar I save. I could focus more on planning ahead and being financially independent. Additionally, when I get married, I would no longer have to worry that combining our incomes would also risk my financial safety net.

Saving for a car or house down payment should not be something that puts critical benefits at risk. Modernizing the asset limits would be a meaningful step toward helping SSI recipients build a more stable life. 

Ending the marriage penalty would recognize that people with disabilities deserve the same opportunity to marry and build their lives together without fear of financial hardship. With higher limits and inflation adjustments built in, people could be better prepared for life’s unexpected challenges, whether that is a medical bill, a rent increase or simply planning for the future.

Small changes like these make a big difference. They help people go from surviving to thriving.

H.R.2540 represents real hope for myself and many others who rely on SSI. Being able to save responsibly without fear and to marry without penalty would mean greater peace of mind, more flexibility and stronger foundations for the future.

Updating the outdated asset limits and ending the marriage penalty would bring real, lasting change for millions of Americans with disabilities. It would allow us to build savings, plan for our futures and live with dignity. Whether you have a disability or not, you should advocate for the passing of this bill to create a system that empowers independence instead rather than limits it.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that $100,000 was the lifetime contribution limit for Achieving a Better Life Experience accounts. The article was updated May 04 at 3:27 p.m. to reflect that $100,000 is the account balance limit, not the lifetime contribution limit, before money in an ABLE account can affect eligibility for Social Security Income benefits. The Daily Trojan regrets this error.