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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
About the Author
Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)
Comments
Comments are closed.
Dedrick L.
How does windfall work when a disabled child starts drawing of a parent record.
DIANE W.
This is a carry on get the young ones out to work more so junkies they get everything
Jennifer D.
Education should not be a factor.
Linda E.
What is the change going to be April 27th 2020 owner SSI
Victoria E.
I want to be reconsider for disability for repetitive motion aggravating nerve in left shoulder causing severe vertigo, projectile vomited, hospitalization. Tmjd. Since 1-13-01, 2-26-02, 6-5-05 hospitalization at Littleton hospital, Poudre valley hospital.
Richard M.
I was denied ssdi, and I have seizures because of a stroke at the end of 2017. I was told not to drive,work,cook or get heated. I was also told not to let my anxiety interfere, for all these symptoms will ignite my seizures. I am currently being treated at the VA for all these symptoms. I also take medications for my seizures and these other symptoms, and the medications all have very serious side effects. Please help me. I can be reached anytime at 863 604 5480. Thank you very much.
Christine C.
I am a 68-year old woman who cannot stand without an aid due to a collapsed spine I also suffer with anxiety I received a letter from Pip on the 5th of January 2020 2 weeks later wp work a man came out and filled my phone’s in I have sent that to phone calls and said they cannot put me in for a face to face with it we are not nearly in March and I have been very stressed am I only slightly levels of flue through the ceiling at times I have felt suicidal I do not like meeting new people or going out this is worrying me I have got nothing to hide I told them they are welcome to come at anytime but surely 3 months down the line and I am still living with somebody tell me why such a long wait thank you
Melissa M.
What qualifies as a disability needs to be changed also and autism is not a mental illness,it’s developmental..so called mental illness such as depression, anxiety,stress,borderline personality disorder is no such thing..these people need to be in therapy to deal with their childhood issues and not on disability..these people are alcoholics and drug addicts collecting disability..SSI payments and they can work,all they need is mandatory therapy..instead of a handout to keep drinking and drugging.
Debbie
I have a child that’s 34 has tried working and just can’t do it he on 2 meds one for depression one for anxiety. WhT can we do here?
Jade
I’m on SSI and concerned that my SSI will drop if I get married. If I have a partner and and they work and receive about 22,000 a year will their income be counted as my own? Would my SSI still be intact? Would the amount I received change? I can’t work due to my disabilities and rely heavily on my SSI.