My wife makes approximately 550 dollars per month. She lives in a home in Calloway County, Kentucky. She makes $3.40 per hour on an average 40 hour work week.

Testimony from my wife:

My name is Brittany Evans. I’m 31, and a hardworking mother of two. I also have multiple sclerosis. Every day I deal with debilitating symptoms that crush my spirit, and cause my family hardship. I feel like a burden. And here’s the thing - no one would choose this.

I, like most people, had dreams. I was raised by two well-educated people, a college professor and an interior designer/librarian. Both with college degrees, one with a Master’s. I myself attended college until my disease began to interfere with my ability to function. Not once while I was reaching for my dream of becoming a Latin teacher did it occur to me that by the time I had children I wouldn’t even be able to provide $600 a month for them - thanks to a horrific disease that I didn’t ask for. I was an excellent student, and knew that I could use my brain to succeed in my field. I envisioned a long, healthy career. I envisioned stability. And then one day all of that came crashing down when my first major exacerbation took aspects of my body away from me permanently. Numbness. Tingling. Falling down. Dizziness. Double vision. Difficulty urinating. Muscle spasms. Electric shocks down my spine. Dexterity issues. Bumps. Bruises. Broken bones. Exhaustion. And so much pain.

So I did what any sane person would do - I finally applied for Disability so I could at least try to be there financially for my children and my husband. I was accepted on the first go round. I thought it was a gift. But based on what I make, it feels like punishment for being disabled. I don’t even make minimum wage. I make $3.40 an hour  on an average 40 hour week job. No one can survive on what I make. They certainly can’t support children. My husband has sometimes worked upwards of three jobs to keep us afloat, and it’s depressing and unfair. People with disabilities deserve a chance at a normal life. Disability wages desperately need to be raised.