Social Security not planning major disability overhaul amid criticism
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A Social Security office in New York. Photo: Zhang Fengguo/Xinhua via Getty Images
The Social Security Administration is not planning to overhaul the way disability benefits work, an advocate who had conversations with administration officials this week tells Axios.
Why it matters: A previously reported plan would've reduced the number of people who qualified for disability and had panicked advocates.
Catch up quick The Washington Post in October first reported on the possibility that Social Security would put in place changes that would've made it harder for older Americans to obtain disability.
- The proposal would've been the largest-ever cut to the program, per an analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- At the time, a spokesman for the Social Security Administration told the paper the agency was working on plans to "propose improvements to the disability adjudication process to ensure our disability program remains current and can be more efficiently administered."
Zoom in: Jason Turkish, co-founder of the advocacy group Alliance for America's Promise, tells Axios he met with OMB head Russell Vought and White House deputy chief of staff James Blair last week in the West Wing.
- He sought assurances that the rumored rule change wouldn't happen — and received them, he says.
- Blair was "unequivocal," Turkish tells Axios. "He said this is not something the White House is doing and the president is upholding his pledge not to cut Social Security."
- Vought affirmed that, Turkish said. He received the same assurance from Social Security commissioner Frank Bisignano.
- Turkish, president of Nyman Turkish, a litigation and disability law firm, says everyone's been consistent that the "rumored mega-regulation will not move forward."
A White House official wouldn't confirm that any rule change was ever in the works, telling Axios on Wednesday that the White House "has not seen any such proposal."
- "However, President Trump remains fully committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security while making it easier for millions of Americans to engage with the Social Security Administration," they said.
- The Washington Post was first to report on Wednesday that the White House wouldn't go through with the plan.
Between the lines: The situation shows how politically sensitive Social Security, known for being the so-called third rail of U.S. politics, can be.
What they're saying: Advocates for the disabled are relieved.
- "I'm incredibly pleased to see Commissioner Bisignano and the administration decide not to pursue proposed cuts to Social Security's disability programs," Rebecca Vallas, chief executive officer of the National Academy of Social Insurance, tells Axios.
