U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced the Childhood Disability Benefit Fairness Act, a bill that would fix the issue where disabled adult children are denied crucial Medicaid and related medical benefits because they never received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) before becoming eligible for Social Security’s Childhood Disability Benefit (CDB).
"Individuals living with a disability already face too many barriers without arbitrary administrative hurdles getting in the way of essential healthcare. This legislation addresses that so individuals with childhood disabilities receive the full benefits and Medicaid coverage they deserve, no matter their family's circumstances,” said Congresswoman Dingell.
Certain children with disabilities are placed in financial hardship and may forgo essential support and services due to the sequencing of federal program eligibility. Disabled individuals go without needed Medicaid services that help them stay in the community, thousands of hours of unnecessary paperwork are conducted by families and government officials each month, and there is more unnecessary health care spending due to higher acuity from forgone care.
Currently, under Section 1634 of the Social Security Act, an individual must receive SSI before receiving Social Security’s Childhood Disability Benefits in order for the CDB income to be disregarded for Medicaid qualification. This statutory requirement creates an unintended trap where individuals with disabilities may be subject to a Medicaid deductible if their parents die young, are older and retire, become disabled themselves, or fail to apply to SSI in time. Depending on the state, these faultless individuals with disabilities may not be able to afford or receive Medicaid benefits simply by being unlucky in their uncontrollable personal life circumstances.
