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The Washington Connection 4-10-25

Welcome to the Washington Connection, the legislative and information service of the American Council of the Blind. The Washington Connection is brought to you by the ACB national office. If you have any questions or comments on the information provided, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask to speak with Claire Stanley.

The Washington Connection is updated any time we have new information to share with you. The following articles are available as of April 10, 2025. Message 8 is new.

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.

SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act Reintroduced

 

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act has once again been introduced in Congress in the 119th Congressional session. It was reintroduced on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The bill raises the SSI asset level to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples. Currently, the asset limit is only $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for married couples. In other words, SSI recipients can never have more than $2,000 in their bank accounts at any given time. The asset limit has not been updated since 1989. This bill is in great need to keep up with inflation. Currently, if an SSI recipient is found to have more than the permitted amount, they are at risk of losing their monthly benefits. The bill was introduced in both the House and Senate with bipartisan support.

 

Did You Go to Capitol Hill During the Leadership Conference?

 

We hope everyone who came for Hill Day had productive meetings! We ask that those who visited their Senators and Representatives to fill out this survey for each meeting. If you include multiple members from your state affiliate, please only fill out one survey for each meeting. These surveys help ACB better understand how the Hill outreach went and what each office is prioritizing. The more detail, the better.

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025HillVisit

Thank you!

 

Social Security Strengthens Identity Proofing Requirements and Expedites Direct Deposit Changes to One Day

 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is taking proactive steps to enhance the security of its services by implementing stronger identity verification procedures. The updated measures will further safeguard Social Security records and benefits against fraudulent activity. Over the next two weeks, SSA will carefully transition to stronger identity proofing procedures for both benefit claims and direct deposit changes. Individuals seeking these services who cannot use their personal “my Social Security” account, which requires online identity proofing, will then need to visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity in person. At the same time, the agency will expedite processing all direct deposit change requests – both in person and online – to one business day. Prior to this change, online direct deposit changes were held for 30 days.

“Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service.”

The agency’s two-week transition plan includes training frontline employees and management about the new policy and careful monitoring of policy compliance. At the conclusion of the transition period, on March 31, 2025, SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing and in-person identity proofing. SSA will permit individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online “my Social Security” services to start their claim for benefits on the telephone. However, the claim cannot be completed until the individual’s identity is verified in person. The agency therefore recommends calling to request an in-person appointment to begin and complete the claim in one interaction. Individuals with and without an appointment will need to prove identity before starting a transaction. Individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online “my Social Security” services to change their direct deposit information, can visit a local office to process the change or can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.

SSA recently required nearly all agency employees, including frontline employees in all offices throughout the country, to work in the office five days a week. This change ensures maximum staffing is available to support the stronger in-person identity proofing requirement.

SSA plans to implement the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service’s payment integrity service called Account Verification Service (AVS). AVS provides instant bank verification services to proactively and timely prevent fraud associated with direct deposit change requests.

The agency will continue to monitor and, if necessary, make adjustments, to ensure it pays the right person the right amount at the right time while at the same time safeguarding the benefits and programs it administers.

People who do not already have a “my Social Security” account can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.

 

ACB Signs onto Amicus Brief in Lupe v. Abbott

 

ACB signed onto an amicus brief with numerous other disability advocacy organizations to help advocate for full access to voting for people with disabilities. The brief is for the case Lupe v. Abbott in the fifth circuit, appellate court. The brief urges the circuit court to affirm the trial court’s decision that found that a Texas law violated the Voting Rights Act, Section 208. The law, S.B. 1, required persons who assist people with disabilities to vote to sign an oath that advocates believe will strongly dissuade many people from assisting in voting processes. Section 208 allows people with disabilities to receive assistance, if they so choose, with the voting process. For instance, a person with a disability can, if they choose, bring a trusted companion to read or fill out the ballot for them. Advocates believe that the Texas oath was overly demanding and would have a chilling effect on the rights permitted by Section 208. Voting companions were intimidated by the strong language and potential penalties outlined in the oath. The district court agreed with this argument. The amicus brief has been presented to the court. The court now has to approve the request to file the brief with the court.

 

Congress Introduces Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act

 

On Monday, March 31, Congress introduced the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act. It was introduced in the House of representatives by Republican, Gus Bilirakis, and Democrat Marc Veasey, causing it to have bipartisan support. The bill would create the first federally funded program to specifically address children’s vision and eye health. Similar programs exist for services such as dental health; this would provide comparable services for vision care to diagnose and treat eye conditions at a young age. The bill has been pushed by ACB’s ally, Prevent Blindness. To reach out to your Congressmember and encourage them to sponsor the bill, follow the link below.

https://advocacy.preventblindness.org/prevent-blindness-legislative-action-center/#/

 

ACB Signs Onto Letter Calling for the Elimination of the Low Vision Aid Exclusion

 

ACB signed onto a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to call for the elimination of the low vision aid exclusion that was set in 2008 by CMS. The coalition, the Independence through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) coalition works to advocate for the needs of persons with disabilities. In light of the creation of numerous executive orders in the new presidential administration, the ITEM coalition decided to utilize two of those orders to advocate to eliminate the low vision aid exclusion. ACB has been advocating for legislation for many years to overturn the exclusion. The exclusion states that Medicare does not have to cover any kind of low vision aid that has at least one lens. This eliminates the coverage of things such as electronic magnification devices, which are quite costly. However, the use of such devices enables many persons, especially the elderly who are losing their vision, to remain independent in their homes.

The letter written by the ITEM coalition applies two recent executive orders to argue for the elimination of the low vision aid exclusion provision. First, one order, known as the Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation, calls for the elimination of ten regulations for every newly created regulation. Thus, this is one regulation that can rightly be rescinded. Second, the executive order that created the Department on Government Efficiency (DOGE) calls for the identification of any regulations that are unlawful or that undermine the national interest. The 2008 exclusion undermines the purposes of Medicare. The letter highlights how these two executive orders can help move to eliminate the pre-existing regulation that ACB has been advocating to overturn for numerous years.

 

NLS Fully Funded through End of September

 

ACB has learned that the National Library Service (NLS) will not be immediately impacted by the executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). NLS, which is under the Library of Congress, is part of the legislative branch. As a result, the executive order does not have the authority to dismantle the program. NLS is separate from IMLS. Additionally, through the recent legislative continuing resolution, NLS is fully funded through the end of September. Many of us are nervous about the many cuts that are occurring around us. Rest assured, at least at this time, that NLS is still funded and NLS books are still readily available to patrons.

Many of us want to know how we can help advocate to prevent the loss of library sources and accessible literature. The elimination of IMLS can impact network libraries; many NLS patrons visit such libraries for services. To advocate, speak out for funding of your local network libraries.

 

Make Your Nominations for the 2025 Audio Description People’s Choice Awards

 

The Audio Description Project’s People’s Choice Awards opens for nominations on April 12, 2025, and closes on April 27. The winners will be revealed during the 2025 ACB Audio Description Awards Gala, which will take place virtually on Thursday, November 13th, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

The selection process for the Audio Description People’s Choice Awards takes place in two phases. First, the ADP will accept nominations in two categories, film and series, from April 12 through April 27. Second, the top titles in each category will compete for the grand prize during a two-week voting period in July.

Be sure to review the nomination criteria before submitting your nominations. Remember that the focus is on the quality of the audio description, not the show itself, and you may nominate a film or series only once. The Audio Description People’s Choice Awards nomination form can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AD-Awards-Nominations-2025. To make your nominations by phone, call (202) 467-5081.

The Audio Description Awards Gala celebrates inclusivity and recognizes the entertainment industry’s role in providing access to film and television through audio description for people who are blind or have low vision. The Audio Description People’s Choice Award is a unique opportunity for fans to get involved by showing their support for the audio description they love the most.

Learn more at www.ADAwardsGala.org and don’t forget to submit your nominations by April 27: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AD-Awards-Nominations-2025.