Hailey
Social Security is one of the most important programs for older Americans, disabled workers, and their families. But in recent years, experts have been warning that the program faces serious long-term financial challenges.
At the same time, new proposals and debates about benefits, COLA increases, retirement age, and disability eligibility rules have made many people worried about the future of their payments.
Recently, the AARP raised an alarm about a major change that could have affected Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The organization says the change would have harmed hundreds of thousands of Americans—especially people over age 50.
Now, after strong pushback, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has paused that proposal. This article explains what the issue was, why AARP opposed it, and how it could have changed disability benefits across the country.
AARP Opposes Proposed SSDI Eligibility Change
The AARP, which represents and protects the interests of people aged 50 and older, strongly opposed a proposed update to rules used to determine who qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
What Was the Proposal?
The SSA had been considering an overhaul that would reduce the importance of age when deciding disability eligibility. This change could have:
- Made it harder for people over 50 to qualify for SSDI.
- Removed disability benefits for hundreds of thousands of people.
- Replaced decades-old eligibility rules with new standards that many experts say were incomplete.
On Nov. 20, the SSA told disability advocates that it was not moving forward with these changes—at least for now.
Why Did AARP Object?
AARP said the proposal would have:
- Denied benefits to many people who cannot work anymore.
- Affected older Americans the most.
- Created unfair barriers for workers in physically demanding jobs.
AARP called SSDI a “critical lifeline” for people who become unable to work. Its vice president, Jenn Jones, said the organization appreciated the SSA’s promise to review any changes carefully and transparently.
Why Updating Disability Rules Was Proposed
Some experts argue that disability rules are outdated.
Mark J. Warshawsky of the American Enterprise Institute said:
- Current disability rules rely on 35-year-old vocational data.
- Many modern jobs—especially in technology and services—aren’t included.
- The system does not fully consider mental requirements, only physical ones.
- Work has generally become less physically demanding.
However, AARP and disability advocates felt the proposed update was rushed and incomplete, especially regarding how age factors into eligibility.
How Age Affects SSDI Decisions
Earlier in 2025, the SSA signaled that it would propose a rule giving less weight to age when reviewing disability applications. That means:
- People aged 50 and older would find it much harder to qualify.
- Those with limited education or physically demanding work histories could lose protection.
Advocates Push Back
Disability rights leader Jason Turkish said that SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano personally assured him the rule would not move forward. Turkish said he was “deeply gratified” because he believed the change would harm vulnerable people who depend on SSDI.
What the Data Shows: Potential Impact on Benefits
Research by the Urban Institute found that adopting a change similar to the proposed rule could cause:
Projected Loss of SSDI Eligibility
| Group Affected | Estimated Impact |
|---|---|
| All new SSDI applicants | Up to **20% fewer people** qualifying |
| Workers aged 50 and older | Up to **30% fewer approvals** |
| SSI applicants | Impact uncertain |
| Total projected loss over 10 years | About **750,000 fewer people** receiving benefits |
| Widowed spouses & dependent children affected | About **80,000 people** losing access |
AARP said these numbers showed how damaging the proposed rule would have been for older Americans and families depending on disability-related benefits.
Social Security remains one of the most important support systems for millions of Americans, especially older adults and people who are no longer able to work.
The recent proposal to change SSDI eligibility rules could have sharply reduced benefits for people over 50 and denied help to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals.
Thanks to strong advocacy from AARP and disability groups, the SSA has paused these changes. This issue shows why ongoing public awareness, responsible policymaking, and careful review are essential to protect Social Security for future generations.
FAQs
Why did AARP oppose the proposed SSDI rule?
AARP believed the rule would make it harder for older Americans to qualify for disability benefits and could remove help from hundreds of thousands of people.
Would the proposed rule have reduced Social Security payments?
Not directly, but it would have reduced who qualifies for SSDI, especially people aged 50 and above.
Is the proposed change cancelled?
For now, yes. The SSA has said it is not moving forward with the proposal at this time.