How Ending Age Protections Could Devastate Social Security Disability Benefits
On October 20, 2025, a coalition of 165 House Democrats, led by Rep. John B. Larson (D-CT) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a FORMAL LETTER to the Social Security Administration (SSA) demanding it halt a proposed rule change by the Trump administration that would overhaul how disability claims are evaluated [1].
At the heart of the proposal lies a potentially devastating shift — removing or weakening the role of age in determining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) [2]. Lawmakers warned that if enacted, these changes would represent “one of the most sweeping and devastating cuts to Social Security ever made” [3].
Why Age Matters in Disability Determinations
Under current SSA policy, age is a crucial factor in assessing whether a disabled worker can realistically adjust to new types of work. The system recognizes that someone over 50 who has spent decades in physically demanding jobs — like construction, manufacturing, or mining — faces very different employment prospects than a younger person [4].
The letter highlights that the average SSDI beneficiary is 56 years old, often someone who has worked a lifetime before suffering a disability [5]. For these individuals, disability benefits are rarely generous — averaging about $19,000 per year for SSDI and $9,000 per year for SSI [6].
If age is stripped from consideration, thousands of older Americans could be denied benefits simply because the SSA assumes they could transition to other types of work — even when such options are unrealistic due to age, education, or medical limitations.
The Real-World Impact of the Proposed Changes
According to the letter, the proposed overhaul could result in widespread harm to millions of current and future applicants [7]:
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Reduced Eligibility for Older Workers — Older applicants could be judged by the same occupational standards as younger workers, eliminating the age-based fairness built into current law.
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Unrealistic Vocational Expectations — The SSA would use new automated occupational data tools that may fail to account for the limitations of aging workers [8].
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Increased Administrative Delays — With staffing and field-office reductions already slowing case adjudication, applicants may face longer waits and fewer approvals [9].
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Increased Poverty Among Older Americans — The letter warns the policy “would drive more older Americans with disabilities into poverty and ill health” [10].
What This Means for Disability Applicants
For older Americans — especially those 50 and above — this proposal is more than a bureaucratic adjustment. It’s a threat to their financial survival.
If implemented, it could:
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Make it harder to qualify for SSDI or SSI after decades in the workforce.
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Force older workers into unsuitable or non-existent “alternative” jobs to meet new SSA definitions.
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Increase the risk that disabled workers lose benefits due to re-evaluation under the new rules.
Applicants should ensure their medical and vocational evidence clearly demonstrates their inability to perform substantial gainful activity, especially when age and physical limitations overlap.
The Bottom Line
This proposal, if enacted, would undermine the core principle of Social Security Disability: protecting Americans who have worked hard their entire lives but can no longer continue due to health limitations.
The bipartisan letter led by Larson and Wasserman Schultz underscores how catastrophic these changes could be for older Americans who rely on SSDI and SSI to survive. Removing age as a factor would not just shift the goalposts — it would move the entire field, leaving millions behind.
Advocates, applicants, and beneficiaries should monitor developments closely and be prepared to engage in the rule-making process once the SSA issues further guidance or comment opportunities.
Sources
- Larson, J.B. (2025). Larson, Wasserman Schultz Lead 165 House Democrats to Halt Trump Plan to Strip Social Security Protections. https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-wasserman-schultz-lead-165-house-democrats-halt-trump-plan-strip
- Wasserman Schultz, D. (2025). Democrats Urge SSA to Reject Trump Administration Proposal on Disability Eligibility. https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3428
- Larson Press Release, 2025 [1]
- SSA Program Operations Manual System (POMS): DI 25015.006 – Age as a Vocational Factor, SSA.gov
- Larson Press Release, 2025 [1]
- Larson Press Release, 2025 [1]
- Larson Press Release, 2025 [1]
- Wasserman Schultz Statement, 2025 [2]
- Larson Press Release, 2025 [1]
- Larson Press Release, 2025 [1]
