Social Security Update: Thousands Would Get Major Benefit Boost Under Bill
A newly introduced House bill could let some Americans receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) access benefits months earlier than current law allows.
The legislation, the We Can’t Wait Act of 2026, was introduced on Monday by Republican Representative Carol Miller and follows a bipartisan Senate version introduced earlier this year by Senators Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, and Maggie Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat.
“Imagine, Mr. President, that you have worked for many years, and you find that you have contracted a disease that is fatal, and that you have very little time to live,” Collins said on the Senate floor in February.
“Surely, you should be able to tap into what essentially is an insurance fund set up for people in exactly that situation. But because of the five-month waiting period, there are individuals who receive no payments at all. During those five months, no payments are made, even though the disability has been confirmed by the Social Security Administration.”
If enacted, the bill would allow eligible SSDI recipients to begin collecting disability payments during that current five-month waiting period. In exchange, they would accept a modest permanent reduction in their monthly benefit amount to keep the program cost-neutral over the long term.
Why It Matters
For Americans who become disabled and can no longer work, the period between being approved for SSDI and actually receiving benefits can be financially devastating.
Current law generally requires beneficiaries to wait five months after being found eligible before payments begin. During that time, many applicants have little or no income while still facing medical bills and housing costs.
People diagnosed with terminal illnesses or severe disabilities often need cash assistance immediately. A 2020 Government Accountability Office report cited by sponsors found that about 48,000 people filed for bankruptcy while awaiting disability appeal decisions between FY2014 and FY2019.
An estimated 109,725 people died before receiving a final decision on disability appeals between FY2008 and FY2019.
What Is the We Can’t Wait Act?
The We Can’t Wait Act of 2026 would allow eligible SSDI recipients to begin receiving benefits during the program’s current five-month waiting period instead of waiting months for their first check. Miller introduced the proposal in the House on Monday, along with several bipartisan cosponsors, including Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene of Washington and Susie Lee of Nevada.
Under current law, workers who are approved for SSDI generally must wait five months before their monthly benefit payments begin, even after the Social Security Administration determines they qualify for benefits. That delay can create severe financial hardships for disabled Americans who have already lost their ability to work, lawmakers say.
“For those receiving SSDI, this could provide much-needed income immediately after approval, particularly for individuals dealing with serious or terminal illnesses who may not have the luxury of waiting five months for benefits,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek.
The legislation would effectively create an optional alternative. Individuals could elect to receive benefits immediately after approval, but in exchange would accept a small permanent reduction in their monthly SSDI payment.
That tradeoff is designed to keep the Disability Insurance Trust Fund financially neutral over the long term.
The reduced benefit amount for those who don’t want to wait would be calculated under a formula designed to maintain balance in the Disability Insurance Trust Fund. The Social Security Administration’s Chief Actuary would determine the exact percentage and recalculate it periodically.
SSDI Waiting Period: Current Rules vs. Proposed Change
The proposal would be available to qualifying SSDI applicants who have not reached early retirement age and are entitled to disability insurance benefits.
The bill would not change SSDI eligibility standards, disability determinations, or the application process itself. However, it would give approved beneficiaries a choice regarding when they begin receiving benefits. Individuals who prefer to keep their full monthly benefit could remain under current law and wait five months before payments begin.
“This isn’t five months of free money. It’s essentially an option to trade some future income for desperately needed income today,” Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek.
“For someone facing a terminal illness, eviction, medical bills or no paycheck…that can be an enormously valuable trade. Someone who remains on disability for many years may ultimately collect less,” Ryan said.
If passed, the bill would likely benefit the following Americans:
- Workers diagnosed with terminal illnesses
- Individuals facing sudden medical emergencies
- People who have exhausted savings while waiting for a decision
- Families struggling to cover housing, utility and healthcare costs after a disabling condition prevents employment
What Opponents and Fiscal Critics Say About Social Security Disability Changes
No major opposition has emerged since the bill’s introduction, but fiscal watchdogs have raised concerns about similar proposals in the past.
One concern is that financially vulnerable beneficiaries may feel compelled to accept lower lifetime benefits because they need money immediately. While the reduction is relatively modest, it would apply permanently, meaning beneficiaries could receive less income every month for years or even decades.
“It is important to note, waiving the five-month waiting period comes with ‘actuarily sound’ reduction in monthly benefit,” Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek. “A true cost-benefit analysis cannot be done until actual figures are presented. As always, the devil is in the details.”
Adding such a choice for beneficiaries could also add complexity to the SSDI program and require extensive counseling to ensure applicants understand the long-term consequences of accepting smaller monthly checks. That means those dealing with serious medical conditions could make decisions under financial pressure that they later regret.
However, in its current form, the proposal is entirely voluntary and would require the Social Security Administration to provide resources and tools to help applicants understand the impact of their decision before making an election.
What Happens Next: Legislative Prospects in the Senate and House
The Senate version of the We Can’t Wait Act is sitting with the Senate Finance Committee after being introduced in February. The House companion bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee following its introduction on Monday.
The legislation has bipartisan sponsors in both chambers, which could improve its prospects, especially as the bill would not expand SSDI eligibility or increase long-term costs.
However, both the House and Senate would need to advance and pass identical versions of the bill before it could be sent to the president for signature.
“Movement in the House does show some signs of progress. Once an individual has already been approved for SSDI, the five-month waiting period does seem a bit harsh given the circumstances,” Thompson said.
“If the government has already determined that someone is disabled and eligible for benefits, the question becomes: Why should they have to wait another five months to receive them?”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson.