America's Social Security system is under visible strain, with staffing cuts, office closures, and shifting rules under Donald Trump's second administration now colliding with the lives of disabled Americans who rely on federal support simply to survive.
The Social Security Administration has cut more than 7,100 jobs since early 2025, according to Fortune, wiping out over 13% of its workforce in the largest staffing reduction in the agency's history. At the same time, more than 400,000 low-income Americans face losing up to $331 (£246) a month under a proposed rule change targeting Supplemental Security Income recipients.
