Tens of thousands of disabled people in the United States are paid less than the federal minimum wage — with some workers making as little as 25 cents per hour.
These workers, most of whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities, are part of an arcane government program that is supposed to prepare them for higher-paying jobs in the community. But a Washington Post investigation has found that many disabled workers are paid low wages for years under a tangled bureaucracy that lacks accountability and oversight.
Jaime Muniz, 33, who has autism, was recently paid about $1.22 for every hour he spent at Pathways to Independence in Kearny, N.J., the facility where he has been working for 11 years. His tasks include sorting wire clothing hangers and unloading heavy boxes.
“I try to do better, and I’m not moving on,” Muniz said. “I don’t really know why.”
About 40,000 disabled people like Muniz work under the program, which was enacted in 1938 to provide jobs for injured veterans. Today, nearly 800 facilities in 37 states participate in what has become known as “14©” — a reference to Section 14© of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which allows employers to apply for a certificate and legally pay disabled workers less than the $7.25 federal minimum wage.
At Pathways, where Muniz works, no workers have transitioned out of the program since 2020, said Alvin Cox, the executive director of the facility.
“Community integrated employment is not for everyone, but everyone should have the opportunity to try and experience the dignity of work,” Cox said. “These individuals need support and guidance to do the work that they’re doing.”
A 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office surveyed wage data from 2019 to 2021 and found that workers were typically making about $3.50 per hour, compared with a federal minimum wage of $7.25. About 12 percent made hourly wages of less than a dollar.
deeply cursed
This is unfortunately widespread in my community. Kroger has had baggers under this program since at least the 90s – probably longer, but I was too young to notice – and many other chains and local businesses also participate. When I worked at Papa John’s 20 years ago, there was a guy who would come in a couple days a week, and they’d have him just fold boxes or something.
I have never seen any indication that anyone was being prepared for a better job. It is just an easy way for a corporation to pretend to give a shit while keeping labor costs down. I would be surprised if there aren’t additional tax breaks written into the program that allow them to write-off a couple admin jobs because they’re necessary for oversight of the workers they’re abusing, which makes it win-win-win for the company.
