Rep. Panetta Authors and Reintroduces Legislation to Ensure Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults

Monterey, CA – Today, as Disability Pride Month draws to a close, United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced the reintroduction of the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act to eliminate requirements that disabled adult children (DAC) should remain unmarried in order to receive lifetime benefits and health care through Social Security.

Under current law, DACs lose federal benefits if they marry a non-disabled person, with few exceptions.  After working closely with one of his constituents, Lori Long, who is impacted by this outdated legal standard, Rep. Panetta wrote this bill to eliminate the rule that removes DAC benefits should a beneficiary marry.  The Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act will benefit hundreds of DACs who have had their marriages terminated and countless DACs who have delayed marriage in order to prevent the loss of benefits.

“By taking away the medical benefits from Disabled Adult Children who get married, current law is forcing Americans to choose between their happiness and health care,” said Rep. Panetta.  “Thanks to my constituent, Lori Long, I authored the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act to allow individuals with lifelong disabilities to marry without compromising their benefits and wellbeing.  Every American, no matter who they are and without being penalized, should be able to marry who they love.”

The Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act introduced today includes the following four provisions to ensure that DACs who would like to marry don’t need to sacrifice their much-needed health care and benefits from Social Security:

• The act eliminates the requirement that a DAC beneficiary be unmarried.
• The act eliminates the rule that removes DAC benefits should a beneficiary marry.
• The act changes Social Security’s rules about common law marriages.
• The act ensures that, in a marriage between a DAC beneficiary and any other person, both spouses may continue to receive SSI and Medicaid as if they were unmarried.

Rep. Panetta previously introduced the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act during the 117th Congress, unfortunately this legislation received no further action in the House Ways and Means Committee.  Rep. Panetta will continue working alongside his colleagues in Congress and disability advocates across the country to secure the equal rights these Americans deserve.

Legislative text can be found, here.

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