Role of Disability in Income Poverty

Disability is both a fundemental cause and consequence of Income Poverty. This theme was recently highlighted in stark terms by the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Census data often misses some of these connections, since the additional costs associated with being disabled are not considered in the Poverty formula.

The Center highlighted these FACTS among others related to Poverty and Disability:

*Almost half of working-age adults who experience income poverty for at least a 12-month period have one or more disabilities.
*Nearly two-thirds of working-age adults who experience consistent income poverty-more than 36 months of income poverty during a 48-month period-have one or more disabilities.

This has far reaching implications for Public Policy and Budget priorities for both the State Of Michigan and its decisions to cut crucial support to the most vulnerable and the US government when considering Health Care Reform.

Read the whole report here: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/09/09-6