Trump Cuts Benefits

Justice in Aging issued a report on how reduction of benefits hurts vulnerable Americans.  The Republican Congress has allowed the longest government shutdown in U.S. history because they refuse to extend benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Within the ACA are enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs), which were put in place to give lower health insurance premiums to more families hovering around the poverty line. Because Congress has not voted to extend these ePTCs, they are expected to expire at the end of this year.

The expiration of ePTCS means 92% of older adults from ages 50 to 64 currently enrolled in Marketplace coverage will see higher premiums this upcoming year. Many lower-income Americans will see a large increase from their previous $0 premiums starting on November 1^st.

In addition to eliminating ePTCs, the Trump Administration also intends to cut Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Being the largest-ever cut to SSDI, many older and injured applicants will suddenly find themselves ineligible to receive social security to help pay their bills while unable to work.

To flame the fire, USDA has also recently announced that states have the immediate deadline of November 1^st to make large cuts to the SNAP food assistance program, due to the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act (or H.R. 1). Over the coming years, H.R. 1 is expected to cut SNAP funding by billions of dollars, which will likely cause much higher food insecurity among the tens of millions of Americans who currently rely on SNAP to afford basic groceries. This is partially due to the Act’s increase in intense work requirements and time limits for some of the nation’s most vulnerable adults: those up to age 65, young adults aging out of foster care, veterans, caregivers, and people experiencing homelessness.

To be more specific, homeschooling mothers will no longer be considered “working,” veterans with unpredictable shifts will also lose their benefits, and any adult who helps to take care of a family member will also no longer be eligible to receive help in paying for groceries.

This unreasonably quick deadline will likely also cause states to create even more unnecessary chaos and confusion, and make rash decisions.

In addition to inflation and high unaffordable housing, Americans will be subjected to much higher costs for their basic healthcare services. Essentially, as the federal government continues to support a system that’s allowed for absurdly high health care costs, they are simultaneously taking away the life vests that everyday Americans use to simply keep their heads above the water.  While the government seems to value the people they serve less and less, we the people must not forget to be compassionate and united with our neighbors, as it’s needed now more than ever.