Nearly 90% of people age 65 and older receive some form of social security benefit. Additionally, more than 11 million disabled Americans under the age of 65 rely on benefits administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) through either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both. All in all, about 73 million Americans receive social security benefits.
With the recent news that the SSA will be cutting approximately 7,000 jobs⎯about a 12% reduction in staffing under the new federal administration, it’s no surprise that many social security benefit holders are feeling nervous about the state of their benefits. While the layoffs are a challenging loss for the former employees affected, it’s important to know that nothing has changed for social security benefit holders. There will be no change in benefit amounts, and payments will continue as planned. With the reduction in force, it will take a longer amount of time for the SSA to review applications, offer support, and review denials, but social security payments are not changing or stopping.
As of January 6, 2025, the SSA requires scheduled in-person appointments, so walk-in appointments are no longer allowed.
What Will Happen if Social Security is Cut?
In general, if you’re a social security benefit holder or are seeking social security benefits, you can expect some delays due to the recent layoffs. Anticipate longer wait times for disability application processing, appointment scheduling, assistance services, and denial claims. With a significant reduction in force, fewer employees will be handling the same amount of work, which will lead to longer wait times.
The impact of Social Security cuts depends on the specific changes made and the types of benefits an individual receives.
For Retirees
Retirees are the largest group of social security beneficiaries. For many, this income is their primary source of financial support. This could affect:
- Monthly Payments⎯The most direct impact would be a reduction in the monthly benefit amount. Even a small reduction could mean losing hundreds of dollars each year. For seniors on a fixed income, this could mean difficult choices between essentials like housing, food, and healthcare.
- Changes to Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs)⎯Social security benefits are adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. Changing how COLAs are calculated would lead to smaller annual increases, making it more difficult for retirees to keep up with everyday expenses.
For Individuals With Disabilities
SSDI provides essential financial support to people who can no longer work because of a serious medical condition. Cuts could severely affect their financial stability and access to necessary care. Here’s what this could mean:
- Stricter Eligibility Requirements⎯One of the ways to cut costs is by tightening the rules for who qualifies for benefits. That might mean reducing what counts as a disability or requiring people to have worked longer to be eligible. This could mean that many people with disabilities that make it impossible to work could lose this critical safety net.
- Lower Benefit Amounts⎯Cuts to monthly SSDI payments would cause financial strain to beneficiaries. Many people with disabilities already face high medical costs, and other expenses related to their condition. A reduction in income would make it even more challenging to manage their health and daily lives.
For Survivors & Dependents
Social security also provides benefits to the surviving spouses and children of deceased workers. These survivor benefits are a lifeline for people who have lost the primary breadwinner for their family. This could mean:
- Reduced Support for Families⎯Cuts to survivor benefits would directly impact the financial well-being of widows, widowers, and their children. This could affect a family’s ability to pay for housing costs, educational expenses, groceries, healthcare, and more.
How Far Back Does SSDI & SSI Retroactive Pay Go?
If there are any delays between your disability onset date and the date your SSDI or SSI application gets approved, you are owed back pay, or “retroactive benefits.” Retroactive benefits refer to the payment of past-due benefits you can receive.
Receiving back pay is a common scenario if you were originally denied benefits but then appealed the denial and won your case. In a situation like this, the SSA determines a disability onset date, which is the date the administration determines that your disability began and you became eligible for benefits.
If you are owed back pay, the retroactive benefits will date back to your disability onset date. Note that there is a 5-month waiting period from the disability onset date. During this waiting period, applicants are not eligible for back pay. But, if your application is approved after the waiting period, you may be eligible to receive retroactive benefits for the remaining months.
Even with the SSA layoffs, this process will remain the same. You will still receive back pay if you are owed it. The only difference is that the process may take longer now.
How Do You Get Social Security Benefits?
While the SSA layoffs are not changing any of the processes around applying for or receiving social security benefits, delays or slower processing times are expected. To improve your chances of getting approved for social security, follow these tips:
Act Fast
Submit your application for benefits as soon as possible. With anticipated delays, it will be important to get your claim in front of the SSA as soon as you’re able to. You can apply for SSDI benefits as soon as you’re no longer able to work, just keep in mind that you’ll need to prove that your disability will keep you out of work for at least one year in order to qualify for benefits.
Remember that the SSA is no longer taking walk-in appointments. If you need to meet with the Social Security Administration, you’ll need to schedule an appointment. Be sure to act quickly and schedule your appointment as soon as possible, as you may have to wait a few days or weeks for an available appointment.
Hire a Top Social Security Disability Lawyer
If your initial application gets denied, contact Wettermark Keith’s social security disability lawyers to appeal the decision. It can be a complicated process to navigate on your own, so working with a skilled attorney will help ensure your appeal has the best possible chance of getting approved.
As one of the top 100 disability law firms in the country, Wettermark Keith has the experience to help you appeal your SSDI denial and provide the necessary evidence to win your case. With offices across Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida, we handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay anything out of pocket. Reach out to us for a free consultation to get started with your appeal process, and we’ll work with you every step of the way.
