It is extremely common for many businesses, including Goodwill, to offer usually small discounts to seniors, usually persons over 65 years old. This is generally because statically many over that age are disabled and lower income, yet anyone under this age limit that’s disabled and impoverished is pretty much left out of any discounts anywhere. 

Im hoping to spread more awareness to this and help other businesses, big and small, to strongly consider either including disabled people of any age into the “senior discount” clause, or make their own separate discount policy for disabled persons of any age. 

I myself am only 35, and I pay full price practically everywhere, even at Goodwill, which is really unaffordable for me now, while getting only $1k a month from SSI. In this economy that is extreme poverty, people on SSI cannot even have more than $2k to their name, this is not even rent most places anymore let alone move in fees. 

People especially on SSI, different from SSDI, are put on this extremely limiting, honestly life ruining program because they were unable to work long enough to “earn” full or sometimes any SSDI, which is often much more pay than SSI without the extreme asset limits (that have not been updated in almost 40 years!!!) Many people on full or partial SSI are on it due to being disabled much earlier in life, many being born with medical conditions that were extremely debilitating, and are forced into severe poverty along with insane restrictions, such as, after earning $85 trying to work a little when some can, SSI takes 50% of every dollar made after that! Or that, if we marry someone, if they made even $560 or so a month, that income is counted against them and they can lose benefits and are forced to rely on the partner, causing many abusive situations, and extreme strain on the marriage, and many many more horrific situations.

It seems counterintuitive for places even such as Goodwill, to charge people making $1k or less a month in this economy full price, while giving discounts to people simply just for their age, weither they even need it or not. And of course I’m not saying to change or take away those from people 65+ but to simply add and strongly consider disabled people of any age range, or to accept people with a food stamps card for discounts, or even a medicaid/medicare card. 

If more businesses would consider this, I guarantee they would see more customers. I and many others who are impoverished and disabled under 65, often are forced to avoid shopping places and going to fun activities, reminding us of so many missed opportunities and life taken from us due to poverty from living with disabilities, that many of us wish we could have attended and supported had we been offered a more affordable option. 

I am a zoo and aquarium member and attend the zoo semi frequently, completely thanks to both having a rare, unique discount for those with disabilities of ANY age, and simply for having a food stamps card. A yearly membership was only $35 for each, which was only a little more than the cost of a one day regular admission for everyone else who is not on poverty programs. 

Going to the zoo when I feel good enough to, is one of the very, very few joys I really have, and would be just another thing I would have to miss out on, or rarely attend due to my life as a disabled young person without these discounts. 

I strongly urge more companies and businesses to please consider and remember that we exist, we are often stuck at home a majority of our lives and wishing we could do more when we feel ok to, but are usually stopped due to extreme financial barriers. Please consider including us!