Disability Benefits Face New Barriers Amid Government Cuts

Report finds staffing reductions and administrative changes have made it significantly harder for Americans to access vital disability benefits.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A new report from researchers at Binghamton University, California State University, Sacramento, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison reveals that changes enacted by the second Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in 2025 have created significant barriers for Americans seeking to apply for and maintain Social Security disability benefits. Interviews with 52 legal and non-profit specialists found that staffing cuts, policy changes, and administrative overhauls have made the already complex system even more difficult to navigate, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups.

Why it matters

Millions of Americans rely on Social Security disability benefits to meet their basic needs, and this report highlights how an already challenging system has become even more inaccessible for those who need it most. The findings raise concerns about the government's ability to adequately serve vulnerable populations and provide critical social services.

The details

The report, titled "A Qualitative Investigation of Barriers to Disability Benefits in 2025", found that changes implemented by the Trump administration and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have created significant obstacles for both new applicants and existing beneficiaries. Interviewees described claimants getting stuck in loops, unable to reach the right people, and situations where people in severe medical crises or on the edge of homelessness were left waiting desperately. The researchers attribute many of the issues to staffing cuts, which have forced experts to be reassigned to answer phones instead of focusing on the complex policy area they know best.

  • The report was published in March 2026, just months after the Trump administration and DOGE began implementing major changes to Social Security Administration operations in 2025.

The players

Matthew Borus

An assistant professor of social work at Binghamton University and co-author of the report.

Katie Savin

An assistant professor in the School of Social Work at California State University, Sacramento and co-author of the report.

Callie Freitag

An assistant professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-author of the report.

The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)

A non-profit organization that co-published the report with the American Association of People with Disabilities.

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

A non-profit organization that co-published the report with the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund.

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What they’re saying

“The big takeaway is that an already difficult-to-navigate system is now harder to engage with, and that means that people in need, including the 16 million people served by these two programs, have a harder time getting desperately needed cash assistance that they're entitled to through these programs.”

— Matthew Borus, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Binghamton University (Mirage News)

“It makes it more difficult for new applicants. It makes it more difficult for continuing beneficiaries who need to update their documents or appeal decisions. These changes are also having a disproportionate impact on people who are already marginalized – folks with unstable housing, immigrant families, people with limited internet access.”

— Matthew Borus, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Binghamton University (Mirage News)

“There are a lot of community organizations, including here in the Southern Tier and central New York, who work every day to help people navigate the process of applying for and dealing with SSI and SSDI. Their work has become more difficult as Social Security has become harder to engage. It's stressing the capacity of those organizations, too.”

— Matthew Borus, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Binghamton University (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers will be hosting a webinar for professionals in the disability benefits field to share and discuss their findings. They will also be making a plain-language summary to make the information easier to digest for a general audience.

The takeaway

This report highlights the significant challenges facing Americans who rely on critical disability benefits programs, which have been exacerbated by recent government policy changes and staffing cuts. It underscores the need for policymakers to prioritize adequate funding and access to these vital social services, especially for marginalized communities.