Trump Team’s Social Security Paradox: Vows Protection While Proposing Program Cuts
Political promises clash with fiscal reality as Trump's team navigates the Social Security minefield.
The Protection Pledge
Public assurances of safeguarding retirement benefits echo through campaign rallies—yet internal proposals tell a different story.The Cutting Edge
Selective program reductions surface behind closed doors, targeting specific segments while maintaining the protection narrative.Fiscal Tightrope
Walking the line between voter expectations and budgetary constraints creates the ultimate political balancing act—watching politicians manage retirement funds is like trusting a crypto whale with your seed phrase.KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The U.S. is trying to keep Social Security funded, and Trump has pledged not to cut benefits.
- However, the administration has proposed tightening eligibility for Supplemental Security Income, which could cut 400,000 people from the program that aids lower-income disabled and older Americans.
- The agency is also aims to change who qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance.
As pressure grows to address Social Security's funding issues, the government is looking for ways to save money on the program.
Social Security is running out of funding. By 2034, a major trust fund will be tapped out, and recipients will only be paid 81% of their expected benefits. Several resolutions have been proposed to maintain the program's 100% funding, including raising the maximum amount of an individual's earnings subject to Social Security taxation, increasing payroll taxes, or automatically adjusting revenues or benefits when a shortfall occurs.
President Donald TRUMP has repeatedly said he will not cut the main Social Security retirement program. However, the administration has proposed cuts to the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance programs that would reduce or cancel coverage for some existing beneficiaries.
Why This Matter
The Trump administration's proposed changes to Social Security programs WOULD eliminate or reduce benefits for thousands of the almost 7.1 million Americans who receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, as well as for some of the 7.4 million who receive SSI payments.
Raising the Age for Americans to Qualify for Full Retirement Benefits
Currently, Americans can take out reduced Social Security benefits starting at age 62. But to get their full retirement benefits in 2025, they need to wait until they are 66 years and 8 months.
The full retirement age used to be 65, but a law passed in 1983 has gradually increased the age over many years. In 2026, the FRA is 66 and 10 months, and in 2027 and beyond, it rises to 67.
In September, Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano said in an interview that the SSA is considering raising the age at which Americans can take out full retirement benefits again in an attempt to save money and prolong Social Security's lifespan.
"Everything will be considered," Bisignano said. "The generations that are coming in will probably have a different set of rules than we had."
The next day, Bisignano reversed that claim and said via the SSA X social media account that the administration is not considering raising the retirement age.
Cutting the Number of Americans Eligible for Supplemental Security Income
Earlier this year, the SSA initiated the process of changing the eligibility criteria for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program that provides additional income for some older adults and individuals with disabilities who have limited or no income.
In order to qualify for SSI, beneficiaries must be part of a "public assistance household."
Previously, this meant all members of the household had to be on federal benefits, such as Social Security benefits, disaster relief, or other forms of assistance.
The Biden administration expanded the definition of a public assistance household, requiring only one member to receive federal benefits. It also broadened qualifying federal benefits, adding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
In August, the SSA under the Trump administration proposed reversing Biden's changes and tightening restrictions again. Estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities show that nearly 400,000 people currently receiving SSI benefits would be removed from the program entirely or have their benefits reduced by hundreds of dollars per month.
RELATED EDUCATION
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Changing Eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance
The Trump administration is considering changes to its eligibility criteria for disability benefits that would make it harder for many to qualify.
Social Security Disability Insurance, known as SSDI, provides financial assistance to Americans who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability. Currently, factors used to determine whether a person's disability leaves them unable to work include the severity of the disability, age, and past work experience.
Applicants 50 years or older generally have a higher chance of receiving SSDI, since age can impact their ability to adjust to another kind of work. However, the Washington Post reported in early October that the SSA has proposed eliminating the age factor, making it harder for older people to qualify, or raising the threshold to 60.
This change could reduce the number of new applicants approved for SSDI benefits by up to 30% for older age groups, according to a report by Jack Smalligan, a senior policy fellow at the Urban Institute.
