4/14/25 - Social Security, and virtual "Hands Off"
A couple of updates on Social Security for today's newsletter – plus a look at how disabled people participated online in last weekend's protests.
Social Security backs off cuts to phone services amid outcry
Emily Peck, Axios - April 9, 2025
"After weeks of confusion and outcry, the Social Security Administration is backing off its announced drastic cuts to phone services ... The changes were slated to begin in less than a week. Instead, the agency said in an email that 'beginning on April 14, SSA will allow all claim types to be completed over the telephone.'"
How significant is this reversal? How will SSA be able to answer its phones with its staff already reduced by DOGE's mass firings? Keeping the phones "open" but unattended and slow won't help much. But the reversal does suggest that the Trump administration might be at least slightly responsive to citizens pushing back against some specific actions. That could be useful information for advocacy planning going forward. I've noticed that some disabled activists have started to imply that the Trump administration is so radical and lawless that the usual "public pressure" tactics are irrelevant now. I'm starting to think they may be less relevant than the once were. But maybe there's still a practical use for angry calls, letters, and emails from disabled people.
Social Security’s new 100% benefit withholding policy: What it means to you
Leada Gore, Al.com - April 8, 2025
"The agency recently announced it was reinstating a plan to claw back 100% of a beneficiary’s monthly check until any overpayment is repaid, meaning some seniors could potentially receive no benefits for months. It’s a large change from the previous policy that withheld only 10% from each check to repay an overpayment."
During the Biden administration, SSA took steps to make collecting on over-payments less financially devastating for disabled people. They would only take 10% of your monthly benefit until the debt was paid off. Now that change has been rescinded. Now once gain, if there is an over-payment, your monthly benefit will be stopped until it's all paid back. People with over-payments from before the date of the policy reversal will still be able to pay back gradually, without losing their core benefit. That's probably a relief to some people. But especially at a time when Social Security is intentionally and very recently under-staffed – greatly increasing the risk of more overpayments – going back to an aggressive, punishing approach to this painful problem seems particularly mean, and harmful. But is it maybe another change that could be undone, through very specific public pressure, like the phone issue was?
For Some Disabled Protestors, “Hands Off” Went Virtual
Julia Métraux, Mother Jones - April 5, 2025
"In-person protests—with their noise, limited seating, and unmasked crowds—can be inaccessible to disabled people. While some may grimace at using Zoom for social activities, for many chronically ill and disabled people, having the platform continue to be available is a relief."
I wish I had logged in to one of these virtual "Hands Off" events. In-person protests are not for me. That's partly because I don't relate to that style of protest and political activity. I value it, but I dislike it personally. It's not my forte. And live, on-site protests are also increasingly inaccessible to me, physically. So why didn't I participate virtually? I think it's because I couldn't find much information on what the purpose of these specific Zoom events were supposed to be. I often have the same concern about lack of focus and direction with live protests – another reason I tend not to like them. But live protests at least deliver a blunt message about mass disapproval or solidarity. What do Zoom protests accomplish? I'm still curious. I'm sure community-building is part of the answer. But to what end? Still, this ambivalence is why I should have joined in, and not a very good excuse for blowing it off.
As always, comments on these articles and topic are welcomed below!
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