The President promised many times during the campaign not to make cuts to the Social Security program. Now, his proposed budget breaks that promise on a massive scale. Some of the most significant cuts to the SSI and SSDI Social Security Disability programs include:
- Reducing SSDI retroactive payments to six months rather than 12 months before the protected filing date. This will take an estimated $9.9 billion over the next ten years from people with disabilities.
- Reinstating reconsideration in ten “prototype” states This is expected to result in more claimants being denied and some dying or becoming discouraged without appealing.
- Creating an “expert panel” to recommend program changes to SSI and SSDI, with the goal of a 5% reduction in benefits by 2027. The budget proposal suggests requiring claimants to receive specific medical treatments or prove they looked for work, or limiting the amount of time beneficiaries can receive benefits, among the possible changes.
- Reducing SSDI benefits when an individual attempts to work, is laid off, and then receives unemployment benefits. This disincentives people with disabilities from trying to work.
- Changing workers’ compensation laws to save the DI trust funds money at the expense of state workers’ compensation programs.
- Establishing a one-year probationary period for new ALJs, which could interfere with their decisional independence.
- Limiting SSI payments for individuals living with other SSI recipients. This would interfere with families’ choices about living arrangements, add complexity to the SSI program (increasing overpayments), and increase poverty.
- Excluding Social Security overpayments from discharge in bankruptcy proceedings, and increasing the minimum withholding to repay overpayments from $10 a month to 10% of benefits.
I frequently meet with people who wonder, even after they have endured the lengthy, often years long, process to get disability benefits, how they will be able to survive on their benefit amount. They lose homes, assets, marriages, and suffer further declines in thier health because of the stress.
These proposed cuts to Social Security will amount to $72 billion over the next ten years. That is $72 billion less for people with disabilities to use for basic needs like food and shelter. When combined with reductions in Medicaid, Food Stamps (SNAP), TANF, and other critical programs, many people with disabilities will not be able to meet their basic needs.
I urge you to write or phone your senators (https://www.senate.gov) and representatives (https://www.house.gov) to oppose these cuts.
Sincerely,
Jay Barnes, Esq.