I am a 22-year-old recent college graduate. My sister, Mia, is 19 and has Down syndrome. Despite her disability, Mia is driven to achieve her goals. She is attending Salem State University this fall, works at a café, has a boyfriend, and strives to be as independent as possible. However, outdated laws are forcing her to make difficult choices that prevent her from fully living out her dreams.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) was designed to help individuals with disabilities meet their basic needs. It’s a program that many rely on for additional support paying bills. However, If Mia has more than $2,000 in savings, she risks losing her benefits altogether. Asset limits haven’t been updated in over 35 years and do not reflect the current cost of living.

I encourage you all to check out “Patrice: The Movie,” a documentary on Hulu. It highlights real-life struggles with Social Security issues from a personal perspective, making it clear just how many people, like Mia, are impacted by these outdated policies.

Getting married one day is something Mia dreams of, and it would limit her and her partner to $3,000 in savings combined. This strongly discourages those receiving SSI from tying the knot. It’s a choice between financial stability and personal fulfillment — a choice no one should have to make.

Mia and I recently went to Capitol Hill with the National Down Syndrome Society to advocate for The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would increase asset limits to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples, eliminating the marriage bias. It would also index both limits annually to adjust for inflation. This would be a fantastic first step for change.

Contact your member of Congress and ask them to support S.2767 – SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. It’s time for a change. People with disabilities deserve the opportunity to work as much as they can and want and still receive the support they need.

Reforming SSI to allow for more savings and to eliminate the marriage penalty would empower people like Mia to achieve their full potential without fear of losing the benefits they rely on.

Damon Kruppa is a sibling advocate for individuals with disabilities