If you’ve been following the headlines lately, you might have felt a jolt of anxiety about your Social Security benefits—especially if you or a loved one rely on disability payments.

Reports hinting that the rules for determining disability might be shifting have left plenty of seniors wondering whether their payments could be affected.

For millions who’ve worked hard all their lives, the idea of losing that safety net is nothing short of frightening. But what’s really happening behind those headlines?

The rumor that started it all​

It all started with a report from The Washington Post, which claimed that the Trump administration was considering a proposal to remove age as a factor in determining eligibility for Social Security disability benefits.

The implication? It could become harder for older Americans to qualify for these crucial payments.

The report suggested this was part of a broader effort to reshape federal assistance programs for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals.

For many, the idea of losing age as a consideration in disability determinations is alarming. After all, as people age, adapting to new types of work becomes more challenging, and our bodies don’t always cooperate the way they used to.

The thought of having to prove you can’t work as a “nut sorter” or “telephone quotation clerk”—jobs that haven’t existed in decades—only adds to the frustration.

The White House Response: Setting the Record Straight​

In response to the uproar, the White House moved quickly to deny any immediate changes. Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai told Newsweek, “President Trump will always protect and defend Social Security for American citizens.”

According to Desai, the only recent policy change has been a tax cut for working families that eliminated taxation of Social Security for almost all beneficiaries—a move, he noted, that “every single Democrat voted against.”

So, for now, the official word is: No changes to the disability determination process are on the table. But as with all things in Washington, it’s wise to keep an eye on the fine print.


Also read: Social Security speeds up certain disability claims with new update

Understanding Social Security Disability: SSDI vs. SSI​

Social Security offers two main types of disability benefits:

1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)​

• This is for people who have worked and paid into Social Security long enough to earn work credits.
• If you become disabled and can’t work, SSDI provides income based on your previous earnings.
• After two years on SSDI, you also qualify for Medicare.

2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI):​

• This is a needs-based program for people who are disabled, blind, or over 65 with limited income or assets.
• Funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes), SSI provides a basic monthly payment to help cover living costs.
• Most SSI recipients also qualify for Medicaid.

It’s not clear whether any potential rule changes would affect one or both of these programs.

The Urban Institute, a respected nonpartisan think tank, has suggested that both could be impacted if changes move forward.


Also read: Are you missing out on Social Security benefits? Here’s what to know about work credits

How Disability Is Decided: The Five-Step Process​

Currently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a five-step “sequential evaluation process” to determine if someone qualifies for disability benefits. Here’s how it works:

1. Are you working? If you’re earning above a certain amount, you’re generally not considered disabled.
2. Is your condition severe? Your impairment must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities.
3. Is your condition on the SSA’s list? If your impairment matches a listed condition, you’re likely to qualify.
4. Can you do your past work? If you can still do the work you’ve done before, you may not qualify.
5. Can you do any other work? Here’s where age, education, and work experience come into play. The older you are, the more the SSA recognizes that it’s harder to adapt to new types of work.

This last step is crucial for older applicants. Age is currently treated as a limitation, making it easier for those over 50 or 55 to qualify.

The rumored proposal would either remove age as a factor entirely or only apply it to those 60 and older—a significant shift.


Also read: A 2.8% Social Security COLA is on the horizon for 2026—but will it keep up with Medicare’s rising costs?

Updating the System: Outdated Jobs and New Data​

Another part of the discussion involves updating the labor market data that the SSA uses to decide if claimants can work.

Believe it or not, the current database still lists jobs like “nut sorter” and “telephone quotation clerk”—positions that have all but disappeared.

The SSA has acknowledged the need to modernize this data, which could affect how disability claims are evaluated.

An SSA spokesperson told The Washington Post that the agency is working on “improvements to the disability adjudication process” to keep the program current and efficient.

Any proposed changes, they said, would go through the standard rulemaking process, including a period for public comment.


Also read: Social Security bump in 2026 may not help as much as you think

What’s Next?​

For now, there are no immediate changes to how disability is determined for Social Security benefits.

The White House has denied the rumors, and any real changes would have to go through a lengthy public process.

That means you’ll have a chance to make your voice heard if and when proposals are officially introduced.

Read next:

• Three surprising ways your Social Security benefits could be reduced or stopped
• Thousands could lose SNAP benefits as October changes roll out—here’s who’s affected
• What a shutdown could mean for the 2026 Social Security COLA—seniors may face delays

Have you or someone you know gone through the Social Security disability process? What was your experience like? Are you concerned about possible changes to the system? Do you have questions about how SSDI or SSI works?