The Social Security Administration has reversed course on a major policy shift that could have restricted disability benefits for hundreds of thousands of older Americans, according to reporting from The Washington Post. Senior officials told advocates late last week that the agency will not move forward with a proposed rule that would have eliminated — or sharply reduced — age as a factor when determining whether someone qualifies for federal disability programs.
The reversal follows weeks of public outcry, after the Post revealed in October that the plan was nearing approval. They said it could have fundamentally changed how disability claims are evaluated.
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The draft rule had been pushed internally by officials aligned with Trump-era efforts to tighten the social safety net.
What the change would have done
Under current standards, age is a major part of the disability determination process. Applicants over 50 are more likely to qualify because they are considered less able to adapt to different kinds of work.
The Post reported that the administration was considering removing age from the equation entirely or raising the threshold to 60. They’re moves that disability attorneys warned could cut benefits for older workers with significant physical limitations.
Advocates say Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano personally intervened to halt the rule.
A second project is also paused
The agency is also pausing a separate initiative to replace its outdated job-matching system with modern labor market data.
That project has cost more than $350 million, the Post reported, and was expected to reshape how Social Security determines whether a claimant could perform other work.
Concerns inside the administration included fears that the new database could actually make younger workers with cognitive and mental impairments more likely to qualify.
Advocates praise the reversal
Groups representing older and disabled Americans welcomed the decision.
AARP said the disability program is a “critical lifeline” and applauded the agency for backing away from changes that could have undermined financial security for millions. Others noted that the proposal ran counter to Trump’s repeated promise not to cut Social Security benefits.
