On March 13, I attended a rally at Rockland Community College where more than 3,200 people including advocates and nonprofit organizations came together to fight for human rights and essential services. That which is being cut by the state is essential for people to live.

According to the Rockland County Times, “speakers stressed the importance of a 4% increase in funding for direct support professionals (DSPs) to keep up with inflation, provide sustainable wages, and maintain critical programs like Medicaid. However, the state has proposed only a 1.7% increase, which would not make a meaningful difference.”

My mom, grandfather, and I attended the rally together. We made several signs, some hung on the back of my wheelchair, and one was taped to my chest. One of my signs read:
“Hey Kathy, $65.00 EBT—let’s see your food bill!!!

“Food up, medical expsenses up, utility bills up, gas up, rent up, travel up! – State Budget Cuts- EBT, Public Assistance, Medicaid, Housing shortage.”

“We Deserve Care, Not Cuts! See Our Abilities Not Our Disabilities!”

“How Would You Like to be in a Wheelchair? Add More Funding for Better Care!”

“Benefits Should Rise with Inflation Not Decrease! Disabled IS NOT Equal to Disposable!“

Recently, my SNAP (EBT) benefits were reduced to just $65 per month. Under the new rules, I am now required to work or volunteer for 80 hours per month. If I do not meet this requirement, I risk losing my benefits entirely.

I am verbally limited, visually impaired, and quadriplegic with spasticity. Despite this, I am still expected to meet work requirements to receive a paycheck that I am physically unable to fulfill on my own.

After researching the new policies, I learned about the ABAWD rule (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents). This classification does not accurately reflect my situation, as I rely on a dependent for care. If she was not around, I would not be able to complete such a form because the state is clear that if I do not work or volunteer then I will lose my benefits. Also, if i do not present to them that I am actively looking for a job then I will lose my benefits. To avoid losing my benefits, my mom helped me complete an ABAWD medical exemption form through the SNAP work requirements system.

What happens if you don’t follow these general SNAP work rules? According to the snap benefits website:

“You may lose your SNAP benefits if you don’t follow these work rules and you don’t have a good cause reason. If you do not follow the general SNAP work rules or you do not participate in a SNAP E&T assignment, you will be sent a Conciliation Notification. You will be offered a meeting with the district to explain why you did not follow the rules.”

This exemption is not something I chose because I do not want to work, it is necessary because I am physically unable to meet the demands of a job. I would love to work. Navigating these new rules has added another layer of difficulty and stress, forcing me to jump through complex hoops just to maintain basic support.

All of this to say that is why we were compelled to go rally in the valley because people like myself must fight for the rights that we should have.

For more information on these requirements, visit:
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/snap/work-requirements.asp