In recent works, the Trump administration has received substantial valid criticism for a proposed rule that could end benefits for many older workers receiving disability benefits by requiring more regular disability reviews.
However, an even stricter rule change that could make it harder for millions of people to receive disability benefits could soon be on the way, with the Trump administration currently drafting changes to Social Security’s Grid Rules, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Grid Rules are the mechanism that make it easier for claimants over age 50 to receive disability benefits.
While there are a number of technical components that attorneys deal with, they essentially work like this: Let’s say you have a history of working heavier, manual labor jobs.
Social Security says that you couldn’t do that type of work anymore, but could potentially do some sort of sit down job. However, because you’re over age 50, the administration also considers that it could be more difficult for you to find this type of job, so you “grid” and are found disabled despite the fact that you could, theoretically, still perform other work.
While the Wall Street Journal didn’t publish the draft of the new Grid Rules reportedly making the rounds, it appears that the new rules would institute the Grid Rules at age 55, making it much more difficult for anyone younger than that to get approved for disability benefits.
Even this early report of changing the grids has received substantial criticism from all ends of the political spectrum, so it’s unclear when, or even if, the proposed rule change could be published.
