Disability Advocates Sue Social Security Administration

Multiple disability advocacy organizations have filed lawsuits against the Social Security Administration (SSA) over actions taken by the Trump administration that advocates argue unlawfully restrict access to disability benefits and due process for claimants.

What the Lawsuits Challenge

The legal challenges focus on several areas:

• Staffing cuts and office closures: The administration reduced SSA workforce and closed field offices, advocates argue, resulting in significant delays in processing claims, appeals, and overpayment notices.
• Data sharing with DOGE: Lawsuits have challenged the sharing of Social Security beneficiary data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arguing it violates privacy protections for millions of Americans.
• Overpayment collection practices: Advocates challenged aggressive collection of alleged overpayments, including withholding 100% of benefits to collect debts, which can leave vulnerable recipients without income.
• Changes to hearings and determinations: Some lawsuits target procedural changes that advocates argue reduce claimants’ ability to present their cases.

The Stakes for Beneficiaries

More than 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits. For the approximately 12.5 million who receive SSI or SSDI, these benefits often represent the entirety of their income. Delays, wrongful terminations, and aggressive overpayment collection can be catastrophic for individuals who have no other financial resources.

What Families Should Watch For

• Unexpected notices of overpayment — you have the right to appeal and to request a waiver if the overpayment was not your fault
• Delays in processing new applications or appeals — document your submission dates and follow up in writing
• Any notices of benefits termination — you generally have the right to continued benefits while an appeal is pending if you file within 10 days