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Insider's Report: Trump Administration Wants to Impose a New Layer of Disability Review The Social Security Administration wants to impose a new layer of disability review [link removed] on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries — effectively
forcing many of them to "re-prove" their disabilities every two years. This new
step will compel beneficiaries living on fixed incomes to produce additional
medical and financial records — and could ultimately strip millions of their
disability benefits while depleting the Social Security Trust Fund which pays
for these unnecessary reviews.
SSDI beneficiaries are among America's most health insecure and
financially challenged citizens. Beneficiaries undergoing periodic eligibility
reviews, or Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs), have at least one severe
disability. These claimants are typically older, poorer, less educated and
housing insecure. They are at least three times as likely to die within a year
as other people the same age.
So far, there is no evidence the Trump Administration's proposal
would improve the integrity of SSDI or help beneficiaries. In fact, the National
Committee estimates that the new system would produce negligible cost savings
because of the resources necessary to conduct additional CDRs.
The National Committee, along with our allies in Congress and our
coalition partners, accuse the Trump Administration of intentionally undermining
the Social Security program through administrative action (or, as Senator Bob
Casey (PA) put it, "Death by a thousand cuts"), knowing that legislative changes
would be overwhelmingly unpopular with the public.
Roughly one third of American households include a person with
disabilities who currently relies on SSDI benefits or may at some point in the
future. And so we urge concerned Americans to make their voices heard on this
critical issue before it's too late. Please sign our petition to President Trump today! [link removed] [link removed] Please consider becoming a member now [link removed] to help us keep the pressure on Congress. Your continued support is essential to
the National Committee's mission of protecting your earned benefits. Good Bills
The National Committee endorses the "Stop the Wait Act" [link removed] (H.R. 4386 / S. 2496), introduced by U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-35)
and Senator Bob Casey (PA), respectively, which would eliminate two provisions
that have for many years delayed the start of both Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) and Medicare benefits for people with disabilities.
Under current law, someone with disabilities must wait fully five months after
the onset of their disability before benefits can begin, which creates
additional hardship on these individuals who've likely already waited years for
a decision on their SSDI claim. Once these individuals are awarded benefits,
they must then wait an additional 24 months before their Medicare benefits can start.
Since all who qualify for disability benefits have severe health problems, it
seems to us that the Medicare waiting period is an especially egregious
provision that threatens the health and well-being of all who are affected by
it. That's why we believe the proposed changes to Social Security and Medicare
are vitally important to people with disabilities and should be enacted
immediately. Sign Our Petition!
The Trump Administration has proposed a new rule that would add a new level of
Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) for Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI), which could result in a loss of benefits for some of our most vulnerable
citizens. The Trump Administration argues this new level of review is necessary
to "modernize our disability program" and respond to changes that have provided
new work options for people with disabilities.
The National Committee believes this proposed rule is likely driven by the same
ideological agenda behind the Trump Administration's efforts to strip Americans
of affordable, quality health coverage, to cut federal programs that feed the
poor and elderly and to impose new requirements that could force millions from
Medicaid rolls. If you agree that this proposed rule must be stopped, please sign our petition to President Trump today! [link removed] Ask Us
Did you know that a team of experts in the field of Social Security policy is
available to answer your questions about benefits? For 37 years, the National
Committee has been helping thousands of our members and supporters with a broad
range of concerns on Social Security.
Whether you're currently retired or approaching retirement, the National
Committee's "Ask Us"section can help answer your questions about Social Security. You can either
search our archives for valuable advice on a broad range of concerns at www.ncpssm.org/ask-us-recent/ [link removed] or email your question to
[email protected] mailto:
[email protected]?subject=.
This week's question is: I am 59 years old and I have been on Social Security Disability and Medicare for
12 years. What will happen to my payment when I reach full retirement age? Also,
when I die, will my wife be entitled to my benefits? She is 56 and is receiving
a pension from the state. Will that make a difference?
Click here to read the answer. [link removed] Recent Headlines
Trump Is Wrong Suggesting Social Security Cuts. It Needs Expanding [link removed] (January 28, 2020, Forbes, Christian Weller)
Trump seeks to bring back Social Security rule changes, one of Reagan's worst ideas [link removed] (January 27, 2020, The Hill, Lowell Arye)
Why Progress on Reducing Drug Costs is Slow [link removed] (January 23, 2020, WMKV, audio clip with Max Richtman)
The High Cost Of Prescription Drugs And Age Discrimination [link removed] (January 28, 2020, Forbes, Patricia Barnes)
Many Adults Are Helping Their Parents Financially Despite Strain [link removed] (January 31, 2020, The New York Times, Ann Carrns)
[link removed] [link removed] [link removed] Member contributions to the National Committee, a nonprofit 501(c)(4)
organization, are not tax-deductible.
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