New Rule Modernizes How We Award Disability Benefits
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: February 24, 2020
The Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society. A successful disability program must evolve and support making the right decision as early in the process as possible. To help us do that, we must modernize the rules and standards we use to evaluate how we determine disability benefits. We are moving forward with a rule change that has been in the works for a number of years and serves to update a more than 40-year-old policy that made the inability to communicate in English a factor in awarding disability benefits. The new rule is effective April 27, 2020.
We are required to consider education to determine if your medical condition prevents work. In 2015, our Inspector General recommended that we evaluate the appropriateness of this policy. Research now shows the inability to communicate in English is no longer a good measure of a person’s education level or the ability to engage in work. The new rule also supports the Administration’s longstanding focus of recognizing that individuals with disabilities can remain in the workforce.
To make the right disability decisions, Social Security disability rules must continue to reflect current medicine and evolution of work. We need to update our rules to keep up with society’s changes.
We owe it to the American public to ensure that our disability programs continue to reflect the realities of the modern workplace. Please share this information with your family and friends.
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About the Author
Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)
Comments
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Shean W.
Need help with disability..
Kimby
Get a lawyer. They dont cost anything unless you win.
curtis
I am appalled by influx of internationalists who exploit disabilities accommodations in the United States. Our President aims to discourage such seekers of government provide. Disability accommodation is for the defunct individual, inoperable by nature of brokenness therefore unable performing life skills mentality and or physically
Kimby
According to the SS admins own website, they have less than 1% rate of fraud.
Tiffany R.
If they want to keep up with the” now” of the world,then why is our ” cola” increase only$ 12.00? ?? That isn’t anywhere near an amount to live on, nor is my check itself, I receive$917.00, eaçh month, and when I’m done paying bills,( not include rent) I’m left with a little over 85.00 to 100.00 if that, so in no way shape or form, is social security keeping up to date on any decent or humane living conditions for anyone,let alone our elders, but if you are from another country you not only get rolled out the red carpet, you get automatic housing,car money,any and all public benefits, job and or a business to own and operate!, So I guess I’m saying f#*#*k the government and the rock they live under, until we fix how our seniors,& disabled Americans are treated,and cared for there will always be an astonishing amount of homeless, poor, and never ending battle to just get a hand up, not a hand out.
Brian M.
If someone has been disabled since a young age. They should be awarded a monthly benefit that they can live on. Since they haven’t got enough years of employment. They are only awarded the minimum benefits. That’s no way to treat an American citizen.
Tina I.
I am legally blind and fighting almost a year now with SSI disability claim! It is very wrong loss of eyesight is the worst. Only those who have lost eyesight know what it’s like. I hired a lawyer in the very beginning and the whole process has been totally ridiculous!!! I am very frustrated mentally and physically. Something needs to change for those of us that are blind.
Jerry L.
That is about the most FLIMSY excuse EVER. Look, the American People KNOW full good and well just what this current REGIME in Washington is actually trying to do, ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY IN ALL OF ITS FORMS ENTIRELY. Very clear what’s REALLY going on here. You just wait until this November….ALL of Washington is about to get the HUGE ENEMA that it has coming to them, and we’re taking the Senate this time, too, and shoving ‘ol “Moscow Mitch” into RETIREMENT once and for all.
Linda D.
What about single fathers who mother of his son, died when their baby was 4 months old.
He gets her ssi for his son, 1400 a month, $22.00 in food stamps, and wic.
He’s on every list they have in ma and the waiting list is 10 years long.
His rent alone is 1400.
Can you suggest any kind of benefit to help him. He also can’t work because he’s on a list for daycare.
Angie B.
I think its unfair for a person thats married on ssi to not get the amount that single person gets. My husband works his ass off to provide for our family of 5 .Because of his income I get nothing. We are straggling barely getting by. Instead he should work less make less just so we can get the money from ssi. The mor he makes the less I get. Thats bullshit
Pam D.
Social security disability is a joke I became disabled in March 2018 but nothing was ever really done it until June of 2019 as far as getting medical appointments done my first appointment about my disability wasn’t done on my case until August 2019 and so they only went back to April 2019 to determine my case I know several people that got their ssi from a month after their disability happened to the day they were awarded their disability even 3 years later my ex got it 7 years after was determined to be disabled, I guess now I to get an attorney since they’re playing games with me.