This week marks Social Security’s 90th anniversary, a reminder of how vital these programs are for millions of Americans with disabilities. We’re also covering new research on the tough financial trade-offs many beneficiaries are facing, along with a debate over proposed restrictions on what SNAP benefits can be used to buy.

Starting at the end of September, the Social Security Administration will speed up how it processes direct deposit changes. Currently, it can take up to 30 days for new bank account information to take effect. Under the new rule, changes made through SSA will be reflected in just one business day.

This shift is designed to improve efficiency and reduce delays for beneficiaries. For people with disabilities who depend on timely payments from SSI or SSDI, the faster turnaround means less stress when switching banks or updating account details. Advocates say the update is long overdue and will help prevent missed payments that can disrupt rent, bills, or other essentials.

The federally funded SNAP-Ed program, which provides nutrition education to low-income families, is facing elimination under proposed budget cuts. For years, the program has helped millions of households learn how to prepare healthier meals on a limited budget. Supporters say removing SNAP-Ed would undo decades of progress in addressing diet-related health issues among vulnerable populations.

Advocates warn that cutting SNAP-Ed would hit people with disabilities especially hard, since many already struggle with limited food budgets and higher healthcare needs. Without these educational resources, families may have fewer tools to stretch their benefits and make nutritious choices. Critics of the cuts argue that eliminating SNAP-Ed would save little money while creating long-term health costs for communities nationwide.

Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano has walked back recent comments suggesting the retirement age might be raised. The remarks caused confusion and concern among advocates who worried about reduced access to benefits for millions of Americans. Raising the retirement age has long been floated as a way to address funding shortfalls, but it also risks putting greater strain on people who cannot work longer due to health issues or disability.

In clarifying his statement, Bisignano emphasized that no immediate policy changes are under consideration. Still, the conversation highlights how uncertain the future of Social Security can feel for beneficiaries. For people with disabilities, the retirement age debate is another reminder of how closely federal policy decisions are tied to long-term financial security.

A new report reveals that during the Trump administration, efforts to collect detailed data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use were blocked in 21 states. The data would have provided insight into how benefits were being used and whether the program was effectively reaching families in need. By halting this information-gathering, advocates argue, policymakers were left without tools to fully understand the impact of proposed changes to SNAP.

The lack of reliable data has long-term consequences. Without it, debates over food assistance policy are shaped more by politics than evidence, making it harder to address real challenges facing low-income households and people with disabilities. Advocates say accurate data is critical for designing programs that reflect the realities of hunger and food insecurity in communities across the country.

Keep all your important SSA notices, receipts, and records in one place. With Purple’s document storage feature, you can upload and organize files right from your phone for easy access when you need them.

Thanks for reading this week’s Purple Weekly. See you next week!

— The Purple Team

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