Tell Congress: Pass Disability Funding Now!
It's time for a HISTORIC investment in disability funding, so everyone can get the support they need to live in their community - instead of in institutions.
People with disabilities rely on home and community-based services (HCBS) for everyday things like employment supports, getting around the community, dressing, bathing, taking medication, and much more.
But there isn't enough money in the HCBS program to support everyone. Too many people are stuck on waiting lists and not getting the services they need. Direct care workers are underpaid, which leads to high turnover, critical staffing shortages, and compromised care for many people with disabilities. All too often, this means unpaid family caregivers are filling in the gaps of care.
The good news is that the U.S. House of Representatives has already passed the Build Back Better Act, which included $150 billion is HCBS funding. This critical funding will support millions of people with disabilities access the services needed to live independently. Now it's time for the Senate to act so this bill can be signed into law!
Contact your Senators now because #CareCantWait!
Dear Senator,
As a member of The Arc and your constituent, I urge you to support a historic investment in disability funding. This legislation must include critical programs and support for people with disabilities, their families, and the direct care workforce.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the cracks and gaps in the service delivery system for people with disabilities, and we urgently need action by you and the rest of Congress to support:
- An investment in Medicaid home and community-based services for people with disabilities on waiting lists and to address the direct care workforce crisis, including raising wages, so people with disability can live in their own communities instead of in institutions. Increased funding will also allow unpaid family caregivers who have been filling in the gaps of service for far too long to re-enter the workforce.
- Improvements to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The lowest income people with disabilities who rely on SSI live in poverty and cannot have more than $2,000 in savings. Many program rules have not been updated for 50 years. Legislation must also include improvements to SSI to lift people with disabilities out of poverty.
