The Trump Administration is continuing to look for novel ways to cut benefits to those most in need. In a new proposed rule, they aim to increase the frequency of medical reviews in the hopes of kicking more people off of Social Security disability benefits.
Here’s how it works: Currently, the Social Security Administration evaluates disability recipients at three different frequencies to determine whether they still qualify for benefits: “medical improvement not expected” (every 5 to 7 years), “medical improvement expected” (every 6 to 18 months), and “medical improvement possible” (every three years). The proposed rule adds a new fourth category called “medical improvement likely” (evaluated every two years). The SSA says 4.4 million people, including children and ‘Step 5’ recipients (those aged 50 to 65 with poor health and no income), would be moved into this category. Democratic lawmakers and disability advocates say this is unnecessarily burdensome, and that for Step 5 recipients, there is no actual evidence that they are ‘likely’ to improve. A Forbes magazine piece explains:
“In general, medical conditions deteriorate as people age, especially those who have limited resources. Compelling Step 5 recipients through a review every two years will make it even more difficult for them to comply with the review process, putting their benefit eligibility in jeopardy.”
Opponents of the rule are not rejecting the need for need-based evaluations – but warn that the extra red tape is designed to force out of the program people who need help, but lack the ability or resources to keep up with the arduous evaluations.
ACTION: Leave a comment against Trump’s proposed regulatory rule that aims to kick people off of SSDI. Please do so by clicking the following link and using your own words:
https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=SSA-2018-0026-0001
The comment period is open until January 31.
Background reading:
https://www.inquirer.com/news/social-security-ssi-ssdi-trump-administration-disability-20191212.html
https://talkpoverty.org/2019/12/19/trump-stealth-kicking-off-disability/
