With the 2016 elections over, many people have been trying to determine the primary goals of the new administration and the GOP, which now has a majority in both houses of Congress.
Because of the results of the election, the GOP will have the opportunity to pass legislation that could significantly change existing laws. A commonly looked to area for change is Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
So are major changes coming to SSDI?
The path forward for SSDI is still unclear
It is too early to tell what, if any, changes will be made to SSDI. During the campaign, President-elect Trump vowed to keep retirement and disability benefits intact.
At times, the President-elect’s stance appeared to differ from others within the GOP who are arguing for reform. For example, Republican House Ways And Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson has introduced legislation that could potentially change the amount of benefits disabled Americans are eligible for, and when they would be eligible to receive them.
However, that legislation is in the earliest stages, so many changes could occur, or other bills could be introduced, before anything becomes law.
Even with uncertainty, eligible disabled Americans can get help
With the amount of talk about Social Security reform, you may feel like applying for SSDI benefits is not worth the effort. You may also have heard that the Social Security Disability Insurance program is insolvent so there’s no point in applying.
However, as it stands, SSDI benefits will be paid out in full through 2034. While there is certainly room for debate about potential changes to SSDI, people suffering from a disabling condition or illness should not give up on their SSDI application. SSDI can still provide a much-needed lifeline for people who can no longer work due to disability.