ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 03: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters near Air Force One at the the Lehigh Valley International Airport on August 03, 2025 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Trump spoke to reporters about a range of topics including tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, negotiations with Russia and the Federal Reserve. Trump spent the weekend at his property in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Trump administration plans to revise the eligibility rules for Social Security disability benefits, a move that may significantly impact aging workers in several states. These changes could lead to hundreds of thousands of individuals losing access to vital financial support.
Christopher Tincher, a 55-year-old resident of Cabot, Arkansas, has faced the difficulties of qualifying for these benefits firsthand. His journey began in the 1980s, when he worked in coal mines in Aflex, Kentucky. As the coal industry declined, he held various low-wage jobs, including cleaning and stocking shelves. A severe injury in 2017, when an infection forced doctors to amputate his right leg below the knee, left him struggling to find work.
Despite his challenges, Tincher applied for disability benefits in 2018 but was denied. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), on average, around 65% of applicants receive rejections, with many eventually succeeding through appeals. His denial was partially attributed to his age; the SSA prioritizes applicants over 50, as they are considered less capable of switching careers or acquiring new skills.
After receiving a prosthetic leg, Tincher returned to work but continued to experience significant pain and health issues. In February 2023, he applied for disability benefits once more, facing mounting financial strain that forced him to move in with his son’s family. In June, he finally qualified for approximately $1,500 per month in Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, just as the administration announced plans to modify eligibility criteria.
The proposed changes aim to “modernize” the disability program, according to unnamed officials in the Trump administration. However, these revisions are likely to disproportionately affect workers in red states, particularly those aged 50 to 60 who have limited education and have spent their lives in physically demanding jobs. States such as West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Alabama have the highest percentage of residents relying on these benefits.
A senior administration official commented, “The Trump administration does not think that simply being 50 years old is a disability.” They argued that many jobs today require less physical labor than in the past, suggesting that older workers could transition to less strenuous roles.
Additionally, the administration cites fiscal responsibility as a reason for the proposed cuts, claiming that the Social Security retirement system faces insolvency risk within a decade. However, the disability program is funded through its own trust fund, distinct from the retirement system. Experts assert that reducing disability eligibility could lead to an increase in early retirement claims, potentially exacerbating the financial strain on the retirement system.
Under the new regulation, which is expected to be proposed by December 2023, the SSA would modernize job listings used by adjudicators to assess applicants’ eligibility. The changes would also remove age as a significant factor in determining benefit eligibility. Currently, the system favors older workers through a grid that takes age, work experience, and education into account.
The Urban Institute, a reputable economic policy think tank, estimates that the revision could impact at least 830,000 beneficiaries, with projections suggesting that up to 1.5 million individuals might lose their eligibility over the next decade. This includes family members of workers who rely on these benefits.
In a separate initiative, the Trump administration is also working on regulations that would severely cut Supplemental Security Income benefits for approximately 400,000 individuals living in extreme poverty with disabilities. This would affect both adults and children in low-income households, as well as elderly individuals living with family members on limited budgets.
Barton Mackey, a spokesperson for the SSA, confirmed the administration’s focus on “improvements to the disability adjudication process.” He emphasized the goal of ensuring that the system remains current and efficiently administered while also promoting “dignity in work.”
Union leaders and advocates for older Americans are concerned that these potential changes will undermine financial stability for working-class families. Individuals denied benefits in their 50s may be forced to deplete their savings and claim Social Security retirement benefits earlier than anticipated, reducing their monthly payments by up to 30% for the rest of their lives. Moreover, losing access to disability benefits may also restrict these workers from qualifying for Medicare.
Research indicates that disability benefits play a crucial role in preventing bankruptcy and homelessness. Many recipients rely on these payments to maintain basic living standards.
Experts familiar with the disability program argue that the forthcoming changes could be detrimental for workers like Tincher, particularly as many have spent their lives in labor-intensive jobs. As Tincher stated, “Having to ask for help is hard, especially for men of my generation.”
The proposed changes to the disability program, which are still under development, signal a significant shift in how eligibility is assessed, potentially affecting the livelihoods of countless individuals and families who depend on these benefits for their economic security.
