Protect people with disabilities
The Trump administration is planning to cut social security disability benefits to hundreds of thousands of people, because there is no bottom.
Did you know January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month? We wish we had to work harder to find fodder on this topic. This week we bring you another gross proposal targeting low-income folks. - Amber & Katie
In a new regulation posted in November, the Trump administration proposed to cut $2.6 billion from the social security budget by making anyone who qualifies for social security disability insurance benefits (SSDI) reapply every two years.
Nevermind that it can take years to get through the application process the first time, or that people will lose benefits waiting for their applications to go through again. Nevermind that it’s notoriously difficult to qualify for SSDI in the first place. Nevermind that the last time we tried this back in the 1980s, half a million people lost benefits, and thousands of people died, either due to loss of benefits or committing suicide.
Live footage of the Trump administration:
The public comment period on this proposal closes on Friday, January 31. Here are two ways to submit a comment ASAP:
Use a form letter posted by Social Security Works, or
Write and submit a comment through the federal register site. (If you want to brush up on the facts first, read this article or see our references below.)
Still fired up?
Share the above link(s) on your Facebook or Twitter to rally more petitioners.
Contact your Senators and member of Congress. Ask what they plan to do to protect their constituents.
Taken action yet on the looming cuts to food assistance yet? (You thought we were being hyperbolic about the murder?) See our bulletin from earlier this month.
References
Trump administration cuts to Social Security disability benefits among the cruelest | USA Today
Trump seeks to bring back Social Security rule changes, one of Reagan's worst ideas | The Hill
Proposed Social Security disability changes could cut off disabled recipients | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Proposed Disability Benefit Changes | Newsweek
Trump Administration Weighs Tighter Requirements for Disability Payments | The Wall Street Journal
41 Senators Urge Trump Administration to End 'Cruel and Dangerous' Effort to Cut Social Security Disability Benefits | Common Dreams
The Trump administration has just declared war on Social Security | Salon
The Trump Administration Has a New Stealth Approach to Kicking People Off Disability | Talk Poverty
Trump Is Wrong Suggesting Social Security Cuts. It Needs Expanding | Forbes
Why Trump's Social Security Disability Proposal Could Have Fatal
Consequences | Yahoo
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Linked & Loud illuminates complex problems and connects readers with the individuals and organizations working to solve them. Each week, we go beyond horrifying headlines to empower readers to take progressive action.