The Trump administration is preparing a change to how older Americans qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
In addition to making, it more difficult for those in their 50s and early 60s to receive assistance, the new regulation has the potential to terminate benefits for hundreds of thousands of individuals who currently depend on them for survival.
How Disability Benefits Work
Social Security disability programs exist to help people who can’t work because of serious health problems. There are two main types:
- SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance): For people who have worked and paid into the system.
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income): For people with little or no income or work history.
When someone applies, the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at their medical records, education, work history, and age.
It’s important to remember that age has always been an important factor. In simple terms, it is fairly difficult for a person in their 50s or 60s to begin a new job or learn new skills after an illness or injury. As a result of this, those older applicants find it slightly easier to qualify as compared to the younger applicants.
What’s About to Change
Removing age as a factor completely or increasing the raising the cutoff age to 60 years is currently under consideration.
This simply means that people in their 50s who have worked in physically demanding jobs for the past 30 years will now undergo the same judgement as someone who is years younger.
The argument is that Americans are living much longer and healthier lives as compared to the 1970s when the rules were originally created.
Why Critics Are Worried
Critics warn that the rule could have devastating effects for older, low-income Americans.
- Health barriers: People who are in their 50s may suffer from chronic illnesses and even if they want to work, their bodies sometimes aren’t able to handle a full-time job.
- Fewer job options: Employers are sometimes sceptical to hire elderly people.
- Retraining isn’t realistic: Many of these workers don’t have college degrees or access to job training programs that could help them switch careers.
Part of a Bigger Plan
The Trump administration’s larger initiative to restrict government assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) includes this plan. According to officials, the objective is to lower government spending and motivate people to work.
What Happens Next
The proposal is still being reviewed and will go through a public comment period before any decision is made, there the public can voice their concerns during this time.
The regulation may go into force as early as 2026 if it is approved. Disability rights organisations say they are getting ready to challenge the changes in court, claiming that the policy disregards decades of research demonstrating the difficulty older people have in finding new employment and discriminates against them.
The Human Impact
Millions of Americans rely on disability benefits as a lifeline. People who have worked their entire lives and become too sick or injured to continue working depend on them to make ends meet.
Opponents note that by removing age as a factor, the government is letting down the people who worked hard for many years and paid into the system. These are the people who need it the most.
The Bottom Line
The Trump administration aims to improve and modernize Social Security to make sure the system remains financially strong. However, the opponents are concerned that it will make things more difficult for those older Americans who are too sick to work or too young to retire.
Beneficiaries are urged to keep updated on information regarding the changes.