There are millions of Americans who rely on Social Security Disability benefits and unfortunately, in the silence, there is a new proposal that could potentially take away these benefits from thousands of people. Data shows that the government has been considering making changes to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) that would make it more difficult for people to qualify for benefits. it’s important to remember that this program provides financial assistance to citizens who can no longer work as a result of serious health problems.
According to experts, if these rules are approved, it could affect approximately 750,000 people. This includes about 80,000 widowed spouses and children who currently receive benefits based on a deceased parent or partner’s record.
What the Plan Would Change
As it stands, the Social Security Administration (SSA) takes many factors into consideration to determine if someone is eligible for disability benefits. This includes the persons age, education, and work history.
The most important factor is age. The older you are, the more difficult it may get to switch jobs or learn new skills if you are disabled. For this reason, people aged 50 and older currently have a better chance of qualifying for SSDI than younger applicants.
The new plan aims to:
- Completely remove age as a factor in deciding who gets benefits, or
- Raise the threshold so that only people 60 and older get special consideration for age.
This would make things difficult for people who are in their 50s as their already struggle to find work and could be denied help when they really need it.
Why the Government Says It’s Needed
There are many officials who support the proposal. Their argument is that the proposal was created many years ago and things have changed since then. According to them, older Americans in today’s times are living longer, healthier and are more educated as compared to those many years ago. These changes would modernize the SSDI program.
Why Critics Call It a Hidden Benefit Cut
With supporters of this, also come the opposers. This group of officials are concerned that this plan would potentially cut benefits for approximately 750,000 people.
These critics are concerned that the proposal does not take into consideration the real life situations that elderly and disabled workers face. Even if someone in their 50s could physically do a new type of job, many employers won’t hire someone with major health problems or limited physical ability.
If this idea is implemented, thousands of people may be forced to file for early retirement, which would permanently lower their monthly Social Security benefits. Medicare, which many SSDI beneficiaries get after two years on disability, may become inaccessible to others.
The Bigger Picture
The SSDI program currently supports more than 8 million Americans as it provides a form of financial support for those who can no longer work due to illness, injury, or disability.
Data suggest the plan would remove approximately 750,000 people from the program over the next ten years. This isn’t just about numbers and figures; these people rely on benefits for essential expenses such as food and healthcare.
Bottom Line
Social Security is changing many of its rules and this one, as per the government, is to modernize the disability benefit system. However, critics are concerned that it will cut benefits for those who need it the most.
With that being said, it’s important for citizens to stay informed and plan ahead. If this plan is passed, thousands of older and disabled Americans could be left without benefits.
If possible, consider other options of savings and investments from now, so that you have some sort of financial stability later on.