It seems that the status of social security disability is always changing. Every year, the Social Security Administration is making adjustments that they feel will make the entire process move smoother and better for themselves and for all recipients too.
Most of the time, this helps everyone involved but sometimes it actually slows down the process, complicates things, and just creates headaches. That’s why it’s vital that employers are well aware of the latest changes and how they could affect them, their workers, and their bottom line in 2025 and beyond.
These changes can have significant implications for workers and employers, therefore it’s crucial that everyone knows how to adapt to them.
The Changes
It’s vital that a look at both SSI and SSDI are discussed when talking about what 2025 holds for employees. A comparison of both programs will find that there have been adjustments, but not many large ones. However, the alterations can have profound effects, especially if you’re not aware of them.
For starters, there has been an increase in income and asset limit in 2024. In the past, both SSI and SSDI recipients have had very harsh limits on how much money and assets they could have before they’d lose their benefits. And certain changes enacted by the SSA have raised the thresholds for both of these programs.
SSI recipients are now able to make more money and still be eligible for benefits, which is something that all employers should keep in mind, since they are paying into the program.
Employer Responsibilities
For employers, they need to keep several things in mind when they are hiring people who will be recipients.
Businesses and business owners need to be aware of the eligibility requirements for SSI and SSDI. This will help all employees who are receiving benefits, but also those who are applying for them as well.
If an employee is applying for benefits because of a medical condition, this might affect their ability to work. Therefore, employers should understand all legal rights of their workers and study the Americans with Disabilities Act. This will ensure that they do not discriminate against people or treat them unfairly.
Employers also need to ensure they are giving their workers the right sort of environment in which they can be productive. There are certain reasonable accommodations that they should address, such as adjusting work hours for medical appointments and treatments, allowing a level of remote work and giving people ergonomic workstations so that people with physical problems are able to work in a productive and healthy manner.
Return To Work
It is also up to employees to create a viable and reliable return-to-work program that will help employees transition back into the workplace after being away because of disability.
The worst thing that an employee could do is come back to work too quickly. When they do this, they risk getting hurt again and perhaps in an even worse way that will keep them away from their place of business for a considerable amount of time.
With the proper sort of right to work program, employers will be sure their workers are coming back when they are ready and that will prevent the employer or the employee from losing out on important productivity.
The road to recovery is not always linear and employers should keep that in mind in order to make this transition better and easier for everyone involved.
Preparing For Challenges
More than anything, employers should be ready for the challenges that may pop out at any time because of changes to social security disability changes in 2025. While these changes will ultimately help people more, they might create a few roadblocks or speed bumps that need to be worked out. It’s vital that businesses keep this in mind and prepare for more adaptation. It’s also important that they recognize that even though the changes in 2024 can be frustrating, there will be more in the future. These alterations to disability benefits aren’t going to slow down, not in 2025, or beyond. So any administrative or policy changes pursued by businesses shouldn’t be steadfast because in just a few years they could be adjusted again.
Featured image by ELEVATE
