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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Ronald
Well I am 60 years old and can’t work homeless because y’all won’t help shit why did I pay all of mine in when won’t help me at all and this town I live in in Louisiana gives it to who ever they want to it is just depressing and you are the only person s keeping it to yourself you need help people with there problem s not feed young with drugs with our benefits
John D.
To be a citizen of U.S. one of requirement is having command of native language English; or they don’t become citizen.
Joe R.
I wus screwd out of my ss I’m 100% veteran n can’t get no help whith ss
Ruth G.
I am a disabled US Army veteran that applied for what I thought was SSDI instead the paperwork was submitted for SSI. I’m a little annoyed as a person that has already been awarded 90% disabled with veterans affairs that my application was already denied for SSI… Not knowing the difference at the time I was quite upset. It was by sure luck I was telling my someone I had been denied and she informed me that there are 2 different disability processes. had I not said anything to her, I wouldn’t be online surfing for the claim I know I was trying to apply for! Not to mention the crazy long lines at the social security office! And I know I told the lady at social security what I was applying for… It should be clear cut which process you are applying for…. and someone patient enough to help you through the process instead of people stopping when they are denied without understanding you might have been applying for the wrong disability!
Janet E.
It’s almost next to impossible to get disability….and if u really need it…ur normally refused the first time and then wait 2 years to re-summit…and then it’s a crap shoot whether or not ur awarded the 2nd time…the time frames are not condusive yo someone’s needs and it sounds as though instead of making it less lengthy..and more assured…its going to be more difficult….There’s two sides to this coin….and they both should be considered….
William k.
My wife will soon be 63 years old. Has worked and payed into social security all her life. Now she’s disabled and she’s done everything asked her to do to determine. I’m 70 years old and I have to do everything because of her disabilities. They seam to give disabilitie to the ones not deserving than The Who do deserve.
David S.
I need my SS check sent to David Sussman 17 Clearwater Clearwater Ct. Nanuet NY 10954. I haven’t received a check in many months.
Shae
My Question is if you have a disabled child since birth. Social Security Disability will no longer base single parent income on what the Child receives? If the single parent makes less than 24,000 annually. Will they cut the SSI CHECK IN HALF be cause of that single parent income. We know how hard this make it for a working parent.
Kristen O.
For some reason after reading this article, I felt it necessary to re-read the article several more time just to ensure myself that I was understanding what it was really saying. Is it really true that it is REQUIRED to look at a person’s level of education in part of evaluating their medical condition, yet as of APRIL the ability to communicate in English is no longer going to be of relavance in determine how well you can do in the work place? We live in United States of America! Your level of education should have no relavance on a person’s medical capabilities to maintain a job. How can not communicating in English have more of an importance of being overlooked in determining a medical condition? Am I really reading this correctly? Is this what America has really come to? SMH!
Judith
Seriously?! Not communicating in English was a freakin reason to get disability?! I’ve had six severe spine surgeries and just survived a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Yet my “work credits” were in “wrong time frame”?! YET, I have enough quarters for retirement/medicare. Get no help PERIOD!!! I am the daughter of a K.I.A. (Gold Star daughter–as my hero Dad, God rest his soul, paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country) and my mother, God rest her soul, was a WWII War Bride, German Immigrant and she learned English. No special deals for us and I was born with Spina-bifida. As we are not blind with all the political BS that goes on. Btw was deemed disabled since 2009….11 years laters, still nothing!
Judith
Btw, there is a sign at SS that states illegals can get SS.