Betsy Osborn, NOSSCR Government Relations Director

On December 6, 2023, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced H.R. 6640, the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act. The bill has 4 cosponsors, all Democrats. H.R. 6640 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where it is awaiting further action.

Currently, when a Disabled Adult Child (DAC) marries a non-disabled person, the DAC beneficiary loses Social Security benefits. Among other things, this legislation would eliminate the requirement that a DAC beneficiary be unmarried and ensure 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.

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