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.
Christie A.
We can give God knows how many tax dollars to the gas and oil industry, assorted big business, drug companies, etc. etc., but the needy from this country or immigrants from other countries need not apply. Since the current administration knows no shame, I won’t bother saying you should be ashamed. I can only hope that there enough compassionate people in this country to change the administration in November, unless the President and his Russian helpers get in the way, that is.
Debra M.
Thank you for making the change to modernize one of the disability requirements pertaining to an individual receiving disability benefits. I think that it was long overdue; however, there is a saying that “it’s better late than never” and that is very true. Keep up the good work!
Evelyn T.
I started getting sick in my twenties and I got to my forties still working and I couldn’t barely walk the pain was so intense that my doctor said it was the equivalent to having your arms and legs worth off your body and Social Security would not give me any Aid I finally got Aid after I what’s to the point where I couldn’t barely walk home had to use devices for that and my hands would not work so I couldn’t type I was a mess I had to go to court how to get a to get a judge to adjudicate my situation and get me Aid. I was finally given fentanyl which didn’t work and a pain pump that has improved my my standard of living but I still have flare-ups it was so difficult to get through the process there must be an easier way when people are as sick as I was or am you just can’t put them through all that mess
Hien V.
What new factor ” Education ” will affect your processing on disability determination.
We need more explanation
Thanks
Kim H.
I recently turned 66 and was switched from disability to Social Security Retirement
I am still disabled will this affect thecbenefitsxoe programmes I would be getting on Disability?
Kherrm4080@aol.com
Kim Herrmann
10/10/53
Jacqueline K.
What if your disability is from combat in military and VA determines you are 100 percent disabled
Vincent g.
This is just the beginning of the trump administration throwing tens of thousands of disabled adults and children of thir SSI/DISABILITY. he promised he wouldn’t touch our benefits on the campaign but said it’s the first thing he will do if reelected. Be smart and vote hime out of office.. He does not care about us, only the rich, be SMART!!!
B..P
If your really disabled you have nothing to worry about
patti m.
oh… so not true
Victor C.
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong. I’m legally blind and both my lawyer and I concluded that it should have been smooth sailing. Hah!! I’ve been battling SSA for my SSDI for the past 3yrs. Assets are gone, can’t work nor drive. But the adjudicators (in all their professional wisdom) refused to make a decision. By “passing the buck” decision onto an ALJ judge, the adjudicator and his/her imps protect their $90,000/yr salaries, bog the system, and leave the real disabled to “deal with it, we’re only doing our jobs”.
I bet if one of them or an elected official became disabled, their cases would go through without a hitch. It’s a case of “who you know” and the “good ole boy” system. Even blind, I can still see the corruptness in the whole SSA system. Being a veteran didn’t help my matters either. SSA is really good at “turning a blind eye”….when it suits them.
Vincent g.
This is the beginning of trump administration throwing tens of thousands of disabled Americans off ssi/disability.
Francis L.
I’ve been denied benefits by two ALJ’s. At my first hearing the VE testified that I would be off task 20% or more and that that was unacceptable for employment. At my second hearing the VE testified that I was unemployable. Both ALJ’ sdenied me as a qualified benefits recipient. This flys in the face of reason. Anyone care thg o explain this to me?
Tracy D.
So, basically you plan on depriving more people of desperately needed help that they qualify for, so you can give trillions in welfare to billionaires and rich corporations. The drumpf regime is comprised of MONSTERS!!!