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The Trump administration is set to change the disability program, which could impact benefits for around 375,000 individuals across the country, including approximately 7,500 in Tennessee. An analysis highlights this potential shift.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly financial aid for low-income disabled seniors. Currently, this program takes into account how much support from family members or others in the household influences whether someone qualifies for benefits.

If a person with a disability receives “in-kind” assistance, like living rent-free with a parent, their benefits might be reduced by as much as a third—approximately $300.

Up until now, the government has allowed certain exceptions for households on public assistance, assuming that families in need, who qualify for food stamps, cannot also feasibly support members with disabilities.

However, new rules proposed on July 18 would exclude the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, from being regarded as public assistance that qualifies for exceptions.

This change means the Social Security Administration will start considering “in-kind” help for those with disabilities living with family members. As a result, benefits could be reduced or cut altogether.

The aim of these budget and policy shifts relies heavily on SNAP and Social Security data; once these rules take effect, it’s estimated that about 100,000 people could see their disability benefits increase, while an additional 275,000 might see their payments decreased. In Tennessee, around 7,500 individuals with disabilities could face loss or reduction in their benefits.