To: The California State Senate, Governor Gavin Newsom, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Donald Trump
Tax Relief for Terminally Ill Citizens
Terminally ill Americans are among our most vulnerable citizens, who face tremendous emotional, physical and financial challenges. The added burden of expecting them to pay income tax is nothing short of criminal and should be stopped.
Why is this important?
When tragedy such as a terminal illness befalls citizens of other developed countries, they don’t have to worry about their financial situation, as adequate healthcare, social safeguards and laws protect them.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case if you’re an American. In the US, terminal patients and their families are often immediately faced with heart-wrenching, financial hardships such as loss of income, mounting medical bills, foreclosure and as a result, often hastened death.
To add insult to injury, the government taxes some disability payments as regular income and the latest tax reform eliminates all medical deductions, as well as deductions for local and state taxes. As a result, my taxes and those of other terminally ill citizens will increase. This is unconscionable when the corporate and billionaire classes, who are in no way in need of tax relief, are receiving tax windfalls.
As a single homeowner, public school teacher and resident of California, I was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. I can no longer walk, eat, talk or breathe on my own. I now need constant in-home care, which costs thousands of dollars a month and somehow, I’m expected to pay for it myself.
My disability income is half of my previous salary and doesn’t begin to cover all of my expenses and obligations. I’m forced to spend down money earmarked for retirement to supplement my end of life. Every time I do, it’s a taxable event. In essence, I’m being taxed for having a terminal illness.
As a single (and very vulnerable) person, my tax bracket for the 2016 tax year was 28 percent, while the wealthy pay only 15 percent on capital gains, shelter their money in offshore accounts and use loopholes such as pass-through business entities. While they avoid their tax obligations, the government snatches much-needed funds right out of my hands by placing a lien on my bank account. It’s only a matter of time before I lose my house and am sent to an acute care facility due to insufficient funds. I will be financially drained and tossed aside. Is this the kind of society we want? This is criminal and must stop.
If you are terminally ill, completely disabled, or are simply a decent human being, please consider signing this petition and sharing it with family and friends. Help us end punitive and harmful taxing of our most vulnerable citizens.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case if you’re an American. In the US, terminal patients and their families are often immediately faced with heart-wrenching, financial hardships such as loss of income, mounting medical bills, foreclosure and as a result, often hastened death.
To add insult to injury, the government taxes some disability payments as regular income and the latest tax reform eliminates all medical deductions, as well as deductions for local and state taxes. As a result, my taxes and those of other terminally ill citizens will increase. This is unconscionable when the corporate and billionaire classes, who are in no way in need of tax relief, are receiving tax windfalls.
As a single homeowner, public school teacher and resident of California, I was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. I can no longer walk, eat, talk or breathe on my own. I now need constant in-home care, which costs thousands of dollars a month and somehow, I’m expected to pay for it myself.
My disability income is half of my previous salary and doesn’t begin to cover all of my expenses and obligations. I’m forced to spend down money earmarked for retirement to supplement my end of life. Every time I do, it’s a taxable event. In essence, I’m being taxed for having a terminal illness.
As a single (and very vulnerable) person, my tax bracket for the 2016 tax year was 28 percent, while the wealthy pay only 15 percent on capital gains, shelter their money in offshore accounts and use loopholes such as pass-through business entities. While they avoid their tax obligations, the government snatches much-needed funds right out of my hands by placing a lien on my bank account. It’s only a matter of time before I lose my house and am sent to an acute care facility due to insufficient funds. I will be financially drained and tossed aside. Is this the kind of society we want? This is criminal and must stop.
If you are terminally ill, completely disabled, or are simply a decent human being, please consider signing this petition and sharing it with family and friends. Help us end punitive and harmful taxing of our most vulnerable citizens.