Disability Benefits Hit by Cuts, Overhauls Erect Barriers

Report finds changes made by Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency have made it significantly harder for Americans to access 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 2025 changes to the federal disability benefits system, including staff cuts and administrative overhauls, have made it significantly harder for Americans to access Social Security disability benefits. The researchers interviewed 52 attorneys and non-attorney benefits specialists who assist claimants, finding that the changes "created significant barriers" for those seeking to apply for and maintain disability benefits.

Why it matters

Millions of Americans rely on Social Security disability benefits, yet this already complex system has become even more difficult to navigate. The report highlights how these changes are disproportionately impacting marginalized groups, including those with unstable housing, immigrant families, and people with limited internet access.

The details

The researchers found that "SSA policy and process changes implemented by the second Trump administration created significant barriers for those seeking to apply for and maintain disability benefits, as well as the attorneys and benefit specialists who represent them." Interviewees described claimants getting stuck in a loop and being unable to speak with the right people, and situations where people in severe medical crises or on the edge of homelessness were stuck waiting in desperation. The biggest factor behind many of the current issues is staffing cuts - by some estimates, the largest cuts Social Security has ever experienced.

  • The report was published jointly by The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in 2026.
  • The researchers conducted their interviews just months after Trump and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (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.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

A non-profit organization that co-published the report.

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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

“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

“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

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 how sweeping changes to the federal disability benefits system, including staffing cuts and administrative overhauls, have created significant barriers for Americans seeking to access the Social Security disability benefits they are entitled to, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups and straining the capacity of community organizations that assist claimants.