Marina
f you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your financial security could be facing an unexpected threat.
A new regulatory proposal by the Social Security Administration (SSA), resurrecting concepts from the Donald Trump‑era blueprint, may tighten eligibility rules significantly and put up to 750,000 people at risk of losing their benefits.
What’s the Proposal & Why It Matters
The SSA’s agenda lists a sweeping rule‑making effort titled “Improvements to the Disability Adjudication Process: Sequential Evaluation Process (RIN 0960‑AI67)”. The essence of the proposal:
- update outdated occupational data (the system currently relies on sources dating from 1991) and revamp how “transferable skills” are judged
- alter how age, education and prior work experience factor into disability eligibility determinations.
- tighten the “medical‑vocational guidelines” or “vocational grids” that the SSA uses to decide if someone can adjust to other work and thus be denied SSDI.
Experts estimate these changes could reduce SSDI eligibility by as much as 20 % overall, and up to 30 % among older workers.
Who Stands to Lose Benefits?
The risk isn’t evenly distributed. Here’s a breakdown of the major impact groups:
| Group Affected | Why They’re at Risk |
|---|---|
| Workers age 50+ with disabilities | The grids currently recognise reduced ability in older workers; new rules may raise thresholds for eligibility. |
| Applicants or beneficiaries reviewed under “transferable skills” test | Updated occupational data may shrink the list of jobs considered transferable. |
| Regions with large numbers of older manual‑labor or low education workers | These workers often depend on SSDI when they cannot retrain; changes hit them hardest. |
| Current beneficiaries subject to review | Though new applicants are first affected, rule changes could affect reviews for existing cases. |
Estimates suggest that up to 750,000 people could lose SSDI or see eligibility terminated over a decade as a result of these changes.
Key Figures & Timeline to Watch
Here are the major metrics and timing details to understand:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| RIN identifier | 0960‑AI67 |
| Estimated eligibility reduction | Up to ~20 % overall; ~30 % among older workers |
| Number of people potentially affected | Up to 750,000 over ten years |
| Occupational data used | Currently based on outdated Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) circa 1991 |
| Timeline for rule publication | Still in proposed stage; could publish Notice of Proposed Rulemaking later in 2025 |
What These Changes Mean in Practice
If adopted, the proposal would mean:
- Many applicants age 50+ who currently meet SSDI rules might be denied under the new system.
- Current beneficiaries might face harsher reviews and higher risk of termination based on the revised vocational guidelines.
- Denial of SSDI has secondary impacts: losing access to Medicare after 24 months, losing SSI or Medicaid eligibility, or being forced into early retirement benefits at reduced rates.
- For many physically or cognitively disabled workers in older age brackets, the practical barrier to retraining is high; the new rules may deem their former skills “transferable” when reality disagrees.
What You Should Do If You Receive SSDI
- Review your case file and medical records now — make sure your disability, work history, and education are clearly documented.
- Monitor regulatory developments: While rule is not final, plans are moving. Early awareness is key.
- Stay in touch with your SSA representative or your disability attorney if you have one — any upcoming review may require proactive preparation.
- Avoid assuming long‑term security: If you’re age 50+ and on SSDI, plan for alternative income or retirement paths if eligibility changes.
- Appeal denials promptly: With stricter standards forthcoming, ensuring your claim or review is thorough will matter even more.
The SSA’s proposed overhaul under RIN 0960‑AI67 represents one of the most significant potential reductions to SSDI in decades. If adopted as drafted, hundreds of thousands of Americans—particularly disabled workers aged 50 and older—could lose their monthly checks, health coverage and financial stability.
FAQs
Is SSDI already being cut?
Who will be most impacted by the changes?
Older workers (50+), those with disabilities who require transferable‑skills evaluations, and applicants from regions with fewer retraining options or manufacturing/physical labor backgrounds.