AI and Public Benefits: Will It Help Us or Shut Us Out?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is finding its way into nearly every part of modern life—healthcare, hiring, education, and now, public benefit systems.
For people with disabilities, this shift could be both an opportunity and a threat.
As someone who has spent decades navigating programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing—both personally and alongside others in the disability community. I see the promise of AI. But I also see the danger.
The real question is: Will AI be used to make public benefits more accessible, or will it create yet another wall between us and the support we need to survive?

The Potential Benefits If Done Right. 
In an ideal world, AI could make our benefit systems more inclusive:

• Faster processing for disability claims or housing applications that currently take months or years.
• Accessible application portals that work with screen readers, speech-to-text, and other assistive tech.
• 24/7 help from AI chatbots that answer questions without the endless wait times.

For individuals who already manage medical appointments, care schedules, and ongoing paperwork, these improvements could be life-changing.

However, there are risks we can’t ignore. 
Automation has already harmed vulnerable communities.

• In Michigan, an AI-based unemployment system falsely accused tens of thousands of people of fraud—leading to garnished wages, drained bank accounts, and years of stress.
• In the Netherlands, an AI welfare fraud detection program was shut down after courts found it discriminated against low-income neighborhoods.

These real-world examples show the risks when AI gets it wrong:

1. Built-in Bias: If the data AI learns from is biased, it will carry that bias forward—leading to more denials for people with complex or “invisible” disabilities.
2. No Clear Appeals: With a human caseworker, you can ask questions. With a machine? You may never know why you were denied.
3. Fewer Human Caseworkers: Agencies may cut staff, leaving fewer people who understand the nuance of disability claims.
4. Privacy Risks: Sensitive medical and personal data could be at risk in large-scale AI systems.

How We Protect Ourselves and Our Rights
AI doesn’t have to be the villain. But to make it a true ally, we need:

• Transparency:  Clear explanations of how decisions are made.
• Bias Audits: Independent testing before these systems go live.
• Human Oversight: AI should assist, not replace, trained caseworkers.
• Community Input: People with disabilities must help design and test these systems.

Your Voice Matters
Technology can be a lifeline but only if it’s built with us, not against us.
Our collective voices are the most powerful tool we have to make sure AI is used to lift us up, not shut us out.
Please share your experience in the comments or send me a message, let’s start the conversation.