President Trump has the opportunity to reform the Social Security Administration (SSA) and improve its efficiency. One key step is undoing Biden-era regulations that increased spending on welfare and disability benefits without targeting those most in need. The Trump administration should work with technology experts to modernize the SSA’s information technology systems.
New digital features could enhance accuracy and speed, helping address the agency’s service crisis. Simplifying the complex disability program rules is also crucial. Previous reforms allowed inefficiencies to persist, such as limited online access to SSA services.
The agency needs to update its rules to reflect the current labor market and incorporate new data on occupational requirements. Other recommended changes include simplifying return-to-work rules for disability benefits and leveraging claimant attorneys to provide complete information during claim filings. A comprehensive analysis of the appeal layers is necessary to ensure they are cost-effective and fair.
President Trump can implement meaningful policy changes and use the Department of Government Efficiency to introduce much-needed technological advancements.
Modernizing SSA for better service
Achieving efficiency and fiscal responsibility is essential for the SSA to better serve beneficiaries and protect taxpayers.
Americans have ideas about how to prevent Social Security from going broke. In a recent survey, they showed strong support for collecting payroll taxes on incomes over $400,000 and increasing the payroll tax rate from 6.2% to 7.2% for both employees and employers. However, survey respondents strongly opposed gradually raising the full retirement age from 67 to 69.
While Americans are open to certain tax increases to preserve Social Security, they are against pushing back the retirement age. President Trump has vowed to protect Social Security, but the program’s financial challenges may make fulfilling that promise difficult. In a recent post, he implied a desire to eliminate the tax on Social Security benefits, which could further weaken the program’s financial standing.
Trump’s commitment to ending the taxation of Social Security benefits faces substantial legislative hurdles. Amending the Social Security Act requires 60 votes in the Senate, and gaining bipartisan support is uncertain. Given these factors, it is likely that Trump will eventually need to break his Social Security promise.
Paradoxically, this might be the fiscally responsible decision to maintain the program’s long-term stability.
