A recent piece from ProPublica has detailed more of the changes the Trump administration is reportedly planning for the disability program.
The biggest change on the horizon appears to be the elimination of the so-called “grid rules” that make it easier for claimants over the age of 50 to be approved for disability.
Once an individual reaches age 50, the Social Security Administration takes into account how much harder it is for someone of that age with limited education to find a job. The number of claimants approved over age 50 increases significantly over so-called younger individuals.
Even if not eliminated completely, it appears the Trump administration wants to only have the grids considered at age 55, or even age 60.
Part of this will coincide with a modernization of how Social Security views job placement. Currently, SSA uses decades old job information to often find people are not disabled. It’s not uncommon for SSA to now tell someone they’re not disabled because they can perform jobs that simply do not exist in the national economy.
Apparently, the new rules would instead tell older workers they could be DoorDash drivers, or work low skill computer jobs.
With this possible change, it’s still unclear what would happen with those over age 50 currently receiving disability benefits, and whether they would be grandfathered in, or would have their benefits eliminated and potentially have to reapply.
While advocates for the disabled are currently working behind the scenes to avoid the worst of these changes, the current plan is for the full proposals to be made public before December, though that deadline could possibly be pushed into next year.
