The Social Security Administration has dropped a proposed rule that would have altered age-based eligibility for two federal disability programs, potentially disqualifying thousands of claimants. Sources say the change would have either removed age as a factor or imposed age limits when determining eligibility. An official notice had been expected in the Federal Register in December, but that step has been paused. The White House has not yet commented.
Social Security Abandons Proposal That Could Have Disqualified Thousands from Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration has dropped a proposed rule that would have altered age-based eligibility for two federal disability programs, potentially disqualifying thousands of claimants. Sources say the change would have either removed age as a factor or imposed age limits when determining eligibility. An official notice had been expected in the Federal Register in December, but that step has been paused. The White House has not yet commented.
04:07 AM, 11/20/2025Politics
The Social Security Administration has abandoned a proposed rule that would have changed how age is considered when determining eligibility for two federal disability programs, sources familiar with the decision said. The move removes a proposal that might have prevented thousands of Americans from qualifying for disability benefits.
Under the now-shelved proposal, the agency would have either eliminated age as a factor or set limits on a claimant's age when assessing eligibility for the two programs. Advocates had warned the change could have left vulnerable claimants at risk of losing access to benefits.
An official notice of the rule had been expected to appear in the Federal Register as soon as December, but that publication will not proceed now, according to people familiar with the matter. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Reporting by Costas Pitas; additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; edited by Leslie Adler.