Social Security Attorneys Blog

How Trump’s Budget Cuts will Affect Social Security

Cantrell Green, a prominent Long Beach law firm specializing in Social Security and retirement law, aggressively protect the rights of their clients. As such, we have watched with great interest the Trump administration’s posture toward Social Security, and especially in terms of how Social Security is treated in the new 2019 proposed budget.

President Trump to Tighten the Belt on Social Security

In the fiscal year 2019 proposed budget, President Trump intends to slash Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits by up to $64 billion. According to the White House, these cuts are intended to help disability beneficiaries to either stay at work, or return to work more quickly.

This is not a new concept. Since 1980, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has put forth eight different attempts at encouraging recipients to return to work. None of the eight have had more than a modest effect, however.

Even so, proponents of the proposed budget envision that it will result in a five percent cut in SSDI benefits by the year 2027. Opponents vehemently disagree. They say that reductions of this magnitude would necessitate harsh measures that would severely diminish benefits or even cut them off entirely.

Trump’s Proposed Social Security Benefit Cuts

In order to meet the administration’s goals, Trump’s budget contemplates a sweeping array of additional benefit cuts for seniors with disabilities, including:

• Cutting application retroactivity for disability benefits from 12 months to six months, which would cut SSDI benefits by an estimated average of $7,000 per recipient;
• Denial of unemployment compensation payments to SSDI beneficiaries who work, but get laid off, and who would otherwise qualify for Unemployment Insurance; and
• Capping the amount a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) could receive if he or she is living with another SSI recipient.

National Committee to Preserve Social Security Reaction to Cuts

While the proponents style these provisions as “savings,” the National Committee to Preserve Social Security (the “NCPSS”) has a different view entirely, calling them what they appear to be – massive cuts, plain and simple, to the tune of $72 billion over the next ten years.

The NCPSS has asked President Trump to stick to the commitment he made during his election campaign – the commitment to keep his hands off Social Security rather than raiding it to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

In the proposed budget, the President asks for a $12.393 billion appropriation for administrative funding, a reduction of $89 million from the 2017 appropriation. The NCPSS suggests that the decrease will result in slower approvals for initial disability claims, and will increase the wait time to speak to a representative on the SSA’s 800 number.

The NCPSS vehemently opposes the cuts, which they believe are diametrically in apposite to what is needed to keep the system moving. Every day, 0,000 baby boomers turn 65. As they approach retirement, the SSA actually needs substantial yearly increases just to keep even with new applications and the resulting increase in employee workloads. When inflation is factored in, the funding level falls far short of what is needed. Unfortunately, it appears that senior citizens will not see improvement in customer service provided by the SSA as a result of the proposed 2019 budget.

Hard Copies of Social Security Statements to Be Reduced

Another cut proposed by President Trump’s FY 2019 budget involves the mailing of hard copies of the Social Security statements. The 2019 budget limits production and mailing of the statements to only 15 million, which would mean that instead of everyone getting statements every five years, they would only be mailed to individuals who are 60 or older.

 Long Beach Social Security Attorneys

Senior citizens who have put into Social Security for their entire working career may feel like they have no recourse or advocate to assist them in terms of their benefits. Cantrell Green’s caring and experienced attorneys understand how cuts in Social Security benefits affect you, and are here to answer your questions. We give each client the individual care and attention you deserve. And, of course, the first consultation with our attorneys is always free. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

The Law Office of Cantrell Green is a group of highly qualified and experienced Social Security attorneys who have obtained millions of dollars in Social Security Disability benefits for thousands of clients in Long Beach, Orange County and the greater Los Angeles. Our attorneys care about every client, and fight tirelessly to obtain the benefits you deserve.

Long Beach Social Security Attorney Consultation: 800-964-8047