Biden moves to end subminimum wages for people with disabilities

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/03/biden-subminimum-wage-disabilities-14c/

23 comments

  1. > The Biden administration is moving to phase out a Depression-era program that allows some employers to pay disabled workers far less than minimum wage, fulfilling one of President Joe Biden’s campaign promises and triggering what is likely to become a fierce legal and political battle.

    > The decision is the culmination of the Department of Labor’s year-long review of the program, which opponents have criticized as a form of discrimination and supporters have described as providing disabled people with hard-to-find opportunities for steady wages and meaningful work. The agency will issue a proposed rule Tuesday that would immediately halt the issuance of certificates that allow employers to pay less than minimum wage and institute a three year phaseout period for employers that already hold those certificates.
    Before it can take effect, the rule will be subject to a public comment period, possible legal challenges and the scrutiny of the incoming Trump administration.

    > The public comment period is expected to conclude on Jan. 17, 2025, just days before Donald Trump takes office. His administration will have to evaluate and respond to those comments, and then issue a final rule — or withdraw the rule entirely.

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  3. It’s about time they’re tackling this, people deserve fair wages regardless of their circumstances

  4. >1. Biden makes a promise,

    >2. He jumps through all of the legal hoops to appropriately follow through with the power he has as president to fulfill that promise.

    *You are here*

    >3. The courts overrule the president and strike down his solution.

    >4. “Biden sucks/is a liar”.

  5. Don’t opportunities for disabled people need to be created? Wouldn’t this just incentivize hiring non disabled people? And if the market for disabled people was tight, wouldn’t the competition already drive wages to the normal rate?

  6. I wish he was spending his final days passing stuff that would make it harder for Trump to implement Project 2025. Desperately trying to preserve democracy and freedom.

    This kind of thing will be overturned in a flash.

  7. I know this seems like it should be an unqualified win, but the level of income someone on SSDI is allowed to have before getting kicked off the program is incredibly low and likely to get lower – I could see a lot of people on disability being forced to quit their part time work or else lose their benefits over this.

    Raising or removing the cap has to come first.

  8. I know this sounds like a good idea on paper, but I work in a sheltered workshop for individuals with disabilities. The individuals earn piece-work pay. We employ almost 100 individuals, and we would not be able to stay open if we paid them minimum wage. This job means everything to them, and if we closed down, many of them would sit at home doing nothing. Many jobs in the community would simply not be able to handle these individuals working there, and they would most likely be let go. I know it sounds bad, but the country DOES need subminimum wage jobs in some circumstances.

  9. There’s a problem with this that many people don’t realize: People on disability benefits have an income limit, and if they go over it, they lose all their benefits. (Those limits, in some cases, have not been updated in decades, even since the 1970s in some states.) There are many cases where people get a 10-cent raise, and it costs them their benefits.

  10. Hopefully, raising the income limit is part of that, otherwise this will hurt more than it helps!

  12. It is absolutely INSANE to argue that it’s ok to pay a person under the federal minimum wage because they are disabled. Like wtf? Anyone who says that should instantly go to hell. What is wrong with humans? 

  13. Upping the max amount you can make while on disability would be nice too.

    Currently it’s about $1550 a month here in PA. Which isn’t nothing, but is something I’ve been worried about. Money is getting thin and 2025 may be time to do more part time work here.

    Not having to worry about losing my disability and more importantly my Medicare would be nice.

  14. and to think we could’ve had another 4 years of solid progress under Harris.

  17. You do half a job you get half pay, what’s hard to understand? Now these people will likely not get employed. Minimum wage laws always hurt the disadvantaged the most.

  18. Good thing. Biden is a noble man in his heart. Too bad he gave in into the woke faction of the party in his old age. Not sure he would have done it if he were younger

  19. Don’t worry, a judge will just block it until the next admin comes in and it’s dead in the water.

  22. If they doubled the SGA limit for disability maybe people with disabilities would actually be able to work full time and keep their medical insurance.

  23. For the people who think this could hurt more than help: People who have been disabled since before adulthood are not on SSDI. SSDI is for people who worked several years and then lost a leg or something (actually A LOT of people on SSDI are veterans who never went to war lying about having PTSD, lol) . People on SSDI usually get paid normal wages because most of them are still able to work any normal  jobs part or full time and are not desperate enough to accept sub-minimum wage. 

    The people you are worried about are on SSI, which makes like max $750 a month with the caveats that you must LIVE ALONE and not make more than like $100 of your own income, AND not have any savings. Obviously,  most of us live with family and either are rejected for SSI or make around $200 a month.  

    This 100% benefits disabled people 

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