WASHINGTON – Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin today introduced legislation that would promote work and decrease obstacles to saving and education for those who are in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSI was created in 1972 to provide a basic level of support for low-income disabled and elderly Americans.

The SSI Modernization Act, HR 739, would increase the SSI general income exclusion from $20 a month to $40 a month and would index the amount to inflation in future years. It would also increase the earned income exclusion from $65 a month to $130 a month, with an index for inflation. In addition, it would increase resource limits from $2,000 for an individual to $3,000 and from $3,000 for a couple to $4,500. These income exclusions have not be increased since the program was founded almost 30 years ago.

The measure also would delay a recipients adult SSI redetermination if the individual is enrolled in secondary education and aged 18 to 21. It would also exclude from income the entire amount of any education grants and would exclude such grants from resource determination for 9 months.

"The SSI program has not kept pace with other social programs in promoting employment and reducing poverty. These are modest changes, but they are critical to encouraging work and savings and to improving educational opportunities for low-income disabled and elderly Americans," said the Congressman. "It's time to bring the SSI program into the 21st Century."

Rep. Cardin's measure has the support of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, an umbrella organization that includes the AARP, the Alliance for Retired Americans and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare . The legislation also has the support of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, an umbrella group that includes Paralyzed Veterans of America, the United Cerebral Palsy Association and the Brain Injury Association.