Fair Treatment & Recognition for Stepparents Who Sacrifice Everything

I am a stepmother in Missouri who has spent the last five years caring full-time for my husband’s children, one of whom is disabled. When my husband gained full custody, caseworkers pressured me to quit my job so the family would appear stable in court. I sacrificed my career, income, and personal stability to care for children who are not biologically mine.

Despite this, step-parents receive no legal recognition, no financial support, and are often penalized by systems like Social Security, which counts our income against benefits for children who are not biologically ours. We are invisible in the law, yet we are the backbone of many families — providing care, stability, and love every single day.

It’s time for step-parents to be recognized, protected, and supported.


---

Goals / Demands:
We call on lawmakers and federal agencies to:

1. Recognize caregiving by step-parents as valuable and legitimate.


2. Ensure financial protections and workforce support for step-parents who sacrifice employment for children.


3. Protect step-parents’ privacy and prevent unnecessary collection of personal information by agencies like SSA.


4. Reform Social Security rules so step-parent income is not unfairly counted against children’s benefits.


5. Provide resources and compensation for step-parents who care for children full-time, including those who leave their jobs to do so.



Step-parents often suffer silently, sacrificing their careers, finances, and personal lives for children who need them. It’s time to give them the recognition, support, and protection they deserve.

Sign this petition to demand fair treatment for step-parents everywhere.