Matthew Borus

People in need of disability benefits are facing new barriers – and government cuts and overhauls are to blame - Binghamton News A new report featuring faculty at Binghamton University reveals that 2025 changes to the federal benefits system have made it significantly harder for Americans to access disability benefits.

Nice write-up from BingUNews on our research into the turmoil at Social Security under Trump/DOGE, and its impact on folks seeking disability benefits.

The impact of the changes at Social Security in 2025 landed hardest on those who were already marginalized.

For instance, the phone system rolled out an AI chatbot. Lots of people found it annoying--but for people with speech and communication disabilities, it was a barrier to services. 9/x

When applications get stuck and appeals drag on, the consequences are severe. Many applicants live in poverty--that's an eligibility requirement for SSI.

We heard about claimants who were unhoused, in medical distress, even dying, as they waited for a decision from an unresponsive SSA. 8/x

Apparently I started an extremely strange thread about a year ago.

Stumbled on it tonight and promptly restarted it.

7. Vlordek tips under 20 percent.

To be more precise, Vlordek always leaves the foot of a Grugnar Beast as tip. And its market value is far less than 20% of the bill for the amount of mead Vlordek drinks at any inn or ale house.

6. Vlordek’s social media is slanted. Sure, he will post photos of his triumph over the Burlungiphites.

But when Vlordek was bested in ritual combat by Herdan the Oblique? Only reposts that day.

The village folk know the truth, Vlordek!

5. Vlordek’s enforcers stole my phone a year ago, halting this thread. But I have recovered it, and the grievances shall not go unenumerated!

I’m old enough to remember when the Iraqi army set Kuwaiti oil fields on fire in 1991.

It was rightly decried as an act of ecocide and a crime against humanity.

Anyone have any good, current reading on the state of SNAP and other food assistance policies?

Looking to update readings for my students. Seeking material that covers the impact of funding halts during last Fall’s government shutdown, as well as the OBBB and pending work requirements.

Really important.

Kinda forgot about Daylight Saving last night. Alarm went off and we hit snooze for an hour.

Realized it later when one of us saw social media posts about the lost hour and told the other.

Serling grew up in Binghamton, NY, and the tributes are a great combo of favorite-son celebration, and working class matter-of-factness.

There’s an annual Serling Fest film series, and his name is also on the plaque honoring WW2 veterans at the synagogue he belonged to.

Thanks so much—for following the issue, for reading, and for your kind words! We really appreciate it and hope you’ll help us get the word out.

Thank you for boosting our report!

Thank you!!

Thanks—that may be it!

(I also realize that there may be multiple pieces like this, in which case I’d love to collect a reading list.)

In the past few months, I read something (an essay? An article?) about two definitions of community squared off in the Twin Cities: ICE's vision of white xenophobia, and a grassroots vision of multiracial solidarity.

Anyone have a link to this piece? I want my students to read it.

Congrats!

Been up for hours and my wrist is still sore for no clear reason other than apparently sleeping funny.

Bodies, y'know?

My students did an exercise today where they addressed letters to themselves (which I plan to send after they graduate).

And...ditto.

Accessing Social Security disability benefits became harder in 2025, researchers find Changes like the push to online servicing and introduction of AI on SSA phone lines made it difficult for certain recipients to access the agency.

Accessing disability benefits at the Social Security Administration has gotten more difficult since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to new qualitative research.

www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...

Screenshot of an email with the subject, “You're now using Gemini on your iOS device.” Under a Google G, it reads, “Get the most out of Gemini on iOS Welcome to Gemini, an Al assistant from Google that can help you supercharge your creativity and productivity. With Gemini on iOS, you can get help writing, creating, learning, and more. Learn more about what you can do with Gemini on iOS.”

I never asked for this, and the email doesn’t say how to turn it off. WTF?

I was thinking about a meme along these lines barely a minute ago. The internet provides.

Pen! Very soothing.

Listening in a quiet room as students do an in-class writing exercise…is this ASMR?

Great new article on our report on barriers to access in Social Security disability programs.

Read all the way to the end. The closing quote from @ksavin.bsky.social is a banger.

Currently, SSI households have a poverty rate of about 29.2%.

But if the SSI Restoration Act were passed, that would drop down about 60% to 11.8%.

That is roughly in line with the overall poverty rate for households in the United States. - Stephen Nuñez, @rooseveltinstitute.org

Even Greg Gianforte (that OTHER Montana politician who attacked someone in the past 10 years) was criminally charged.

It doesn't seem to have hurt his political career--he's governor now. But Sheehy's full de jure impunity seems even worse than de facto.

Wanna see an in-depth research report summarized in two dozen posts? It’s brand-new research on how Trump and DOGE have made it even harder to access Social Security’s disability benefit programs.

Check out the thread below. And if it piques your interest, click through to download the full report.

Because Social Security administers Medicare enrollment, these issues have affected Medicare beneficiaries too.