Dear Senator Wyden;
This email is being sent to you as
the Social Security Administration is on the federal level but I am also contacting
our governor, John Kitzhaber, as the Child Support Program is on the state
level. I am disabled and receive Supplemental Security Income. The SSA encourages
individuals to obtain gainful employment as much as possible. I receive $721
per month in SSI. I visited the website and called the SSA about returning to
work, part time, as much as my personal disability will allow. I learned that
any money I earn will be deducted from my SSI income
Here’s the tricky part; I
owe several thousand dollars in back child support. This cannot be deducted
from my SSI but up to 50% can be garnished from any earned income that I
receive. This ultimately means I would need to work full time, which I cannot,
and earn $14 per hour to break even to what I receive from SSI. I strive to
better myself, and be an asset instead of a liability, but these circumstances
prevent it.
Thank You,
Robert Kirk Toncray