In the waning months of 2025, people with disabilities on both sides of the Atlantic are facing a wave of proposed and enacted policy changes that threaten to reshape how they access vital support. From Washington D.C. to Westminster, the safety nets that millions rely on are under intense scrutiny—and, in some cases, at risk of being pulled tighter than ever before.
For Logan Wood, a resident of Cadillac, Michigan, these shifts are more than just headlines. Living independently despite mild cerebral palsy, Asperger Syndrome, and brain trauma, Logan depends on a patchwork of Social Security Income (SSI) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to make ends meet. "Because of my low income, I can’t exactly afford to buy food, so I really heavily rely on my bridge card or SNAP benefits to help me with that," Wood told the local news. His SSI check is $983 a month—$600 of which goes to rent—leaving precious little for other necessities. SNAP covers less than $300 a month for food, and any spike in utility costs can wipe out the meager $60 that sometimes remains.
Logan’s story is echoed by millions of disabled Americans. According to The Senior Citizens League’s October 2025 update, the Trump Administration is preparing to tighten the rules for qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). These changes, based on a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, would make it harder for older workers—nearly 80% of SSDI recipients are over 50—to qualify for benefits by discounting age-related barriers to employment. SSDI is a lifeline for those whose careers are cut short by serious medical impairments, providing $11 billion in monthly support to prevent poverty among disabled workers and their families.
Qualifying for SSDI is already a daunting, multi-step process that can drag on for years, especially if an initial claim is denied and appealed. Applicants must first prove they have a severe condition—think ALS, terminal cancer, or chronic heart failure—before the government considers their age, education, and work history to determine if they could still work. Traditionally, those over 50 have had a better shot at approval, with about 42% of applicants deemed eligible in 2022, according to Social Security data. But the proposed changes would erode that advantage, potentially leaving many older disabled Americans without support just when they need it most.
The timing of these changes is notable. Disability claims have already dropped 7% this fiscal year, while initial denials are up and the Social Security Administration approved nearly 3% fewer claims last year compared to this one. All of this is happening as inflation and the cost of living continue to climb, putting even more pressure on vulnerable households. "There’s a lot of people that are really, really going to be struggling, especially with the cost of everything going up," Logan’s mother, Marla Courtney, told reporters. She helps manage his finances, but worries about those without such support.
Meanwhile, American seniors are bracing for higher healthcare costs in 2026. The Kiplinger Newsletter reports that Medicare premiums are set to rise: Part B will jump to about $206.50 a month, the Part D deductible will increase to $615, and the out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs will hit $2,100. These hikes come alongside stricter rules for Medicare Advantage plans and potential reductions in negotiated drug prices. For the 34 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage, the open enrollment period this fall has been marred by a new Trump Administration-backed directory riddled with errors, according to The Washington Post. Some seniors have been given conflicting information about which doctors and providers accept their plans, potentially saddling them with unexpected medical bills. Federal officials have promised that anyone misled by the directory will have three months to switch plans, but the scramble to fix the system is ongoing.
Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom is facing its own reckoning over disability support. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is reportedly considering sweeping reforms to the Motability scheme in the December 2025 Budget. Motability allows disabled people to use their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility benefits to lease a car or make vehicle adaptations, granting them crucial independence. But proposed changes would remove premium cars like BMWs and Audis from the scheme and, more significantly, scrap the VAT tax exemption—adding an average of £3,000 to annual costs for users. According to the Disability News Service, this could raise up to £1 billion in tax revenue but would hit disabled households hard, with their median income hovering at £18,500, less than half the UK average.
The backlash from disability rights campaigners has been swift. Nigel Fletcher, chief of Motability, told BBC’s Access All podcast that the organization is determined to "absorb the costs" if cuts go ahead, but many worry that the changes will force people to give up their adapted vehicles. Motability has stressed to Yahoo News that it operates entirely off the government’s balance sheet, with no additional taxpayer funding beyond disabled people’s allowances. "Eliminating these tax breaks could impose additional financial burdens on disabled individuals across Britain. Limiting access to Motability could severely impact those with lower incomes," James Taylor, strategy director at the charity, warned.
The debate has also become politically charged. Conservative leaders have claimed that "millions" are getting "free cars" for conditions like anxiety and ADHD, but Tom Waters of the Institute for Fiscal Studies pointed out that only 860,000 people use the scheme in total, and the number of claimants with such conditions is likely closer to 190,000—many of whom have multiple health challenges. Importantly, no one gets a truly "free" car; claimants pay an average of £12,000 to lease a vehicle using their existing benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions was clear: “Motability is independent of government and is wholly responsible for the terms and administration of the Scheme, including determining what types of vehicles they use. The scheme comes at no additional cost to the taxpayer, and customers claiming benefits such as PIP must use some of their existing payment to lease a car.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said she would be "comfortable" with removing luxury models from the scheme, arguing, "We need to make sure that the scheme is always going to be there for the people who genuinely need it, and we also need to make sure that we’re offering the taxpayer value for money." Motability, for its part, insists the program is "life-changing" and delivers £1.50 in economic benefit for every £1 of disability allowance spent.
For people like Logan Wood and thousands of others, these policy debates are not just theoretical—they shape daily survival, independence, and dignity. As governments weigh budgets and reform, the voices of those most affected remind us that behind every statistic is a person trying to live a full life, often against steep odds.
