Disability Advocacy Program

Executive Order (EO) 14247, Modernizing Payment To And From America’s Bank Account, dated March 25, 2025, mandated the U.S. Department of the Treasury deliver all federal benefit payments electronically via direct deposit or through the Direct Express® Debit Mastercard®. This includes payments of Social Security benefits. The Department of Treasury is to phase out the […]

Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) advocates should take note that some Social Security citations now have a new look. On April 19, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) renumbered all sections of the instructions and policies found in its Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation Law Manual (HALLEX). The change is intended by SSA to “consolidate and standardize” […]

In a closely watched 6-3 decision issued June 6, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the federal government’s emergency request to stay an injunction that had blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) systems. The ruling in SSA v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, No. […]

In July 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sparked controversy by sending a mass email to over 70 million “My Social Security” account holders stating that the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), Public Law No: 119-21 (H.R. 1, 119th Congress), “eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries.” The […]

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched a new form – SSA‑792, the Statutory Benefit Continuation Election Statement – standardizing how individuals appeal the cessation of disability benefits. This update, introduced via Emergency Message EM‑25033 on May 28, 2025, is already in effect and seeks to simplify the appeals and continuation of payments process for […]

The U.S. Department of Education Department announced it would begin involuntary collection of debt – including offsetting Social Security benefits – for borrowers in default, using the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), which allows garnishing up to 15% of federal payments, starting in May 2025. However, due to a strong backlash, the agency reversed course within […]

As reported in the last issue of this newsletter, at the direction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA) in April listed 6,300 immigrants known be alive on its Master Death File (MDF), in an effort to pressure them to “self-deport”. The New York Times has now reported on July 1, […]

On May 28, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) rescinded several Social Security Rulings (SSRs) related the assessment of substantial gainful activity (SGA) that have become obsolete: SSRs 83–33, 83–34, 83–35, 84–25, and 84–26. In its Notice of Rescission, SSA stated that the SSRs had been rendered outdated by subsequent regulations. It also stated that […]

The Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB), released its 2025 Statement, to be included by the Social Security Administration in its Annual Report of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program. This year’s statement focuses on the exclusion of most U.S. territorial residents from SSI eligibility.   The statement provides an overview of the residency requirements for SSI. […]

Frank Bisignano was sworn in as the new Commissioner of Social Security on May 7, 2025 following a Senate confirmation vote of 53-47 that fell along party lines. Bisignano now leads an agency experiencing significant upheaval: a massive reduction in force, structural reorganization, and historic lows in the level of customer service.  As discussed in […]

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a proposed rule (Docket ID: OPM-2025-0004, RIN 3206-AO80) aimed at increasing accountability within the federal civil service by modifying the employment status and procedural protections of certain policy-influencing positions. The proposal, titled Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service, was published in the Federal […]