Democratic lawmakers introduce bill to assist disabled residents

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – A bill proposed by State Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D – Appleton) and State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D – Milwaukee) seeks to secure disability insurance access for disabled residents.

The proposed legislation codifies a court decision that determined that a Wisconsin law that barred individuals from receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments at the same time was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“There are workers across industries who receive disability insurance, but still are able to work part-time because they see the value and dignity in participating in the workforce,” Dassler-Alfheim said in a statement. “Those people should not be punished or discriminated against for this choice, and this bill ensures that they aren’t.”

Thousands of disabled Wisconsinites were denied UI or were forced to pay back any compensation they received after former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ratified legislation in 2013 that blocked them from collecting unemployment after losing their jobs. In 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed against Wisconsin, and a federal district court judge issued a decision in 2025 requiring the state to pay back those residents who were denied UI.

“Disability insurance alone is rarely enough to get by on, and many of those who rely on it still hold down a job. During COVID, when those folks were laid off, they were denied the unemployment benefits that everyone else was able to fall back on, benefits that they should have been able to qualify for, if not for the 2013 law that flipped prior precedent. That’s not fair – that’s discrimination, and that is never okay,” said Dassler-Alfheim.

“Whether it’s a condition they are born with or the result of an injury or aging, disability is something that everyone is susceptible to, and individuals should never experience discrimination because of it. With this legislation we can put an end to this gross injustice once and for all.”

The bill is part of the Build a Stronger Wisconsin package proposed by Democrats in early September – read Civic Media’s coverage of the proposed legislation.