Latest news with #disabled
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Let's Let Everyone Save For Retirement
U.S. public policy typically encourages saving. Our retirement system has undergone a major transformation over the past four decades, shifting workers to an individual savings-based system. Public policy supports saving for college costs, health costs, and emergencies, so it seems odd when a specific group of Americans is denied the ability to save, but that is precisely the situation facing people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Established in 1974 by President Nixon and run by the Social Security Administration, SSI provides financial assistance to individuals who have limited income and resources, including those who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI is not based on work history. Instead, it is a needs-based program funded by general tax revenues, not Social Security contributions. The goal of SSI is to help eligible people cover basic expenses like food, clothing, and shelter. As of February 2025, approximately 7.4 million individuals were receiving SSI payments, which includes one million children. Today SSI is one of the vital economic security programs provided by the Social Security Administration. SSI recipients have very low incomes, which is partly why they are eligible for the program in the first place. But they are subject to very strict asset limits while receiving SSI - asset limits that have not been updated for more than forty years. The current asset limits are $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple, which means there is a marriage penalty for an SSI recipient who gets married while receiving benefits. SSI recipients seem to find themselves in this unfortunate circumstance due to congressional neglect. The asset limits are not adjusted for inflation, so they have remained stagnant for four decades. Many SSI beneficiaries have a disability, but significant societal changes over the past four decades have increased opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in the workforce. However, some employed people with disabilities find themselves unable to participate in their employer's 401(k) plan or even receive a bonus because doing so would push them above the asset limit and stop them from receiving their SSI benefits, which they need in addition to their earnings. This issue has not received the attention it should, but Americans strongly support a change in policy. Polling released earlier this year found that two-thirds of Americans support either increasing or eliminating the SSI asset limit. That support was strong across the board regardless of whether the respondent was a Republican, a Democrat, or an independent. The option with the most support was to raise the asset limit to $10,000 for an individual and $20,000 for a couple and to exempt retirement savings from the limit. Fortunately, Congress seems to have woken up to the need to update SSI policy on this front. A bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation called the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act was recently reintroduced in the new Congress. This bill would raise the asset limits to $10,000 for an individual and $20,000 for a couple. Retirement savings would still remain subject to the limit, but the bill is a step in the right direction of enabling more people to save. Recent public policy, such as the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 Act, has encouraged Americans to save more for retirement. It's unfortunate that SSI policy isn't on the same track. It seems shortsighted that some Americans are punished for saving because they need extra economic security today. Hopefully this policy will finally be updated after more than four decades and we can let everyone save for retirement.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Norwich disabled woman says window smashed by gun shot
A severely disabled woman has said she is "frightened" after someone is believed to have shot at her home with a 76-year-old, who lives in Old Catton in Norwich, said she saw someone with a weapon outside her house seconds before the window smashed on BBC has seen video footage showing two people running away after a loud bang is Police said it is investigating following a report that a window pane was smashed. "I just walked into the living room and there was a terrific bang," said the woman, who did not want to be named. 'Shook up' She explained that although it all happened in seconds, she clearly saw the gun, adding: "It really shook me up."Describing the suspect, she said the male with the gun was "quite short" and had a rucksack on his back."I don't think I ate for two days afterwards, in case they came back and had a go at the other windows," she said.A neighbour's doorbell camera captured the incident.A Norfolk Police spokesperson said officers were called just after 15:00 BST on 29 May."Inquiries are ongoing," they said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Lamborghini driver slammed for parking ‘£200k supercar' in disabled spot… before getting ultimate revenge on his critics
A LAMBORGHINI driver who was slammed for parking in a disabled space has had the last laugh. The driver faced backlash after he was accused of "depriving a disabled person of a space." 2 After a photo was posted of the wonky parking, social media users were quick to criticise the driver of the £200,000 Lamborghini Huracan. It led users to label the driver entitled and selfish, with a post on Spotted Torquay reading: "Have Lamborghini so will park however and wherever I like, even if that means depriving a disabled person of a space." Commenters criticised the poor parking, with one writing: "Parking like that will get him a ticket." Others mocked the driver for having more money than sense, as one said: "If you're rich enough, a fine is just how much it costs to park somewhere." Most of the comments, however, seemed to empathise with the driver. One wrote: "If you owned a Lamborghini I bet you would park it there also rather than risking a battered old Nissan Micra opening its side door with a pensioner taking a chunk totally obliviously out of your side door." Other commenters shared a similar sentiment, writing: "They'd rather risk the fine than park next to people that don't give a toss about ramming their door into your car!" The post also gave locals the opportunity to complain about the car park itself, blaming the narrow spaces for the problems. A Facebook comment reads: "Don't blame them... not your every day mundane car... parking spaces are too small these days anyway..." Moment yobs who 'stole 5 supercars worth £500k from racetrack BRAG about late-night heist on TikTok' Another took the opportunity to back up their comment with statistics, stating that the average parking space is 2.4 metres wide while the similar-sized Lamborghini Aventador's width is 2.03 metres. The driver had the opportunity to get the last laugh, however, after he submitted a photo posed in front of the car showing off his blue badge and prosthetic leg. 2 The updated photo was captioned: "A picture for all my fans." Users praised the driver's good sense of humour, with one commenting: "Fair play to the owner and also to have a good sense of humour." The original poster added that "I did ask if there was a blue badge. Almost didn't post but I'm kind of glad I did because this is a cracking pic, got to be a top 5 of all time." They added: "Turns out the dash isn't great for blue card placement and sometimes slips down. I have apologised for posting." Comments rushed to defend the driver, with one saying: "Exactly why people shouldn't jump to conclusions! A lot of it was jealously over the car rather than the parking." Angry commenters were urged to apologise for assuming that a disabled person couldn't drive a Lamborghini. Some still took it as an opportunity to take a jab at the driver, comparing his appearance to Tiger King's Joe Exotic. Commenters on Reddit shared their own experiences of jumping to conclusions, encouraging people to have more empathy. Others shared their experiences of being the subject of abuse after other motorists misunderstood their need for a disabled badge. One commenter wrote: "I have a blue badge for a similar reason. I wear leggings and cover my leg however. Old generation LOVEEEEE to question me on why I'm parking in a disabled space." In a screenshot of their direct messages, the Facebook page manager apologised to the driver for not asking for verification when the first photo was submitted.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why you will get two Social Security checks in May
This is one of those months when some Social Security recipients may have three checks hit their bank accounts. Those who get Supplemental Security Income checks will get two checks in the month of May – one for May and another for June – due to quirks in the Social Security Administration's calendar. About 7.4 million Americans who may be disabled or have limited resources get monthly SSI benefit payments. About one-third of those SSI recipients also get a benefit from Social Security. Those folks will wind up with three benefits payments hitting their account during the calendar month of May. Traditional Social Security payments – for those who are older or retired – are issued on Wednesdays throughout the month for most recipients. If your birthdate falls between the first and 10th of the month, that mean you are paid on the second Wednesday of the month, which this month is May 14; between the 11th and 20th, you're paid on the third Wednesday (May 21), and if you were born after the 20th of the month, you get paid on the fourth Wednesday of the month (May 28), according to the SSA calendar. Social Security recipients who began getting benefits before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of the month – if they also get SSI, that benefit comes on the 1st. As it was in February, SSI recipients will get two checks in the month of May. The May SSI payment is scheduled to be issued on May 1, according to the SSA calendar, and the June SSI payment is scheduled for May 30. The June payment is issued early because June 1 falls on a weekend. That means in June, as it was in March, SSI beneficiaries will not get a payment in that calendar month. This recurring calendar quirk crops up again in August when SSI recipients will get two checks – the August payment on Aug. 1 and the September payment on Aug. 29 – but no payment in the calendar month of September. SSI recipients will also get two checks in October, but not one in the calendar month of November, according to the SSA calendar. Supplemental Security Income checks will be sent out on the following dates in 2025, according to the SSA calendar. Thursday, May 1, 2025 (Check for May 2025) Friday, May 30, 2025 (Check for June 2025) Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Check for July 2025) Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 (Check for August 2025) Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 (Check for September 2025) Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 (Check for October 2025) Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025) Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025) Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026) Supplemental Security Income is a benefit payment for those with limited income or resources aged 65 or older, who are blind or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI, according to the SSA's website. Adults who earn more than $2,019 from work monthly, typically do not qualify for SSI. Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: May 2025 SSI checks will go out on these dates: Full schedule
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Dating app scammers in Japan targeting disabled people with fake dates and huge bar bills
Police in Japan are ramping up efforts to dismantle a loose network of romance scammers who use dating apps to target disabled people, luring victims to fraudulent bars and saddling them with exorbitant bills through deceptive drinking games and false claims. Advertisement The latest case – involving a visually impaired man who was swindled out of about 700,000 yen (US$4,870) – has cast a spotlight on how such 'anonymous and fluid' crime groups operate with impunity by cycling in new perpetrators for each incident, according to Tokyo police. The man had met a woman on a dating app designed for people with disabilities. She introduced herself as 'Risa' and offered to take him to a bar in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district in February. What he did not know, investigators later said, was that the woman – identified by police as Rina Sugawara – was employed by the bar and working in concert with its staff. Pedestrians walk through Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, where police say romance scammers have lured disabled victims to fraudulent bars as part of a widening criminal scheme. Photo AFP The bar offered an all-you-can-drink plan for 5,000 yen, but during their visit, Sugawara reportedly encouraged him to order additional drinks and engage in a drinking game that involved taking shots as a penalty. The victim, who rarely consumed alcohol, soon became intoxicated.
