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H.R. 930: Stop the Wait Act of 2025

This bill, titled the "Stop the Wait Act of 2025," proposes amendments to the Social Security Act regarding disability insurance benefits and Medicare eligibility for individuals with disabilities. The main objectives of the bill are to eliminate delays in receiving disability benefits and to improve access to healthcare for those awaiting benefits. Below are the key provisions outlined in the bill:

1. Elimination of Waiting Period for Disability Insurance Benefits

The bill seeks to remove the existing waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits entirely. Specifically:

  • The bill proposes an amendment to Section 223 of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement that individuals wait for five months before receiving their disability benefits after being approved.
  • Instead of a waiting period, individuals would start receiving benefits immediately upon qualification.

2. Phase-Down of Waiting Period for Applications Filed Until 2030

For individuals who apply for disability insurance benefits between the date of enactment and January 1, 2030, the bill establishes a phased reduction of the waiting period:

  • For applications filed in 2025, 2026, or 2027, the waiting period will reduce to three months.
  • In 2028, the waiting period will decrease to two months.
  • For 2029 applications, the waiting period will be reduced to one month.

3. Medicare Eligibility During Waiting Period

The bill also addresses Medicare eligibility for individuals during the waiting period for SSDI benefits:

  • It allows individuals who are under 65 and do not have minimum essential health coverage to be eligible for Medicare immediately upon approval of their disability benefits, instead of the standard 24-month waiting period.
  • Entitlement to Medicare will be effective from the first month of disability benefit eligibility.

4. Special Enrollment Period for Certain Individuals

The bill introduces specific provisions for individuals who are eligible for Medicare but do not have minimum essential coverage during the waiting period. These provisions will allow:

  • A special enrollment period that begins on the first day of the month in which the individual becomes eligible for disability benefits.
  • Flexibility in the enrollment period for individuals who attain Medicare benefits under the new rules.

5. Effective Date

The amendments proposed in the bill will take effect on January 1, 2030, and will apply to applications filed for SSDI benefits starting from that date as well as for applications already in process as per the phased reduction schedule.

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Sponsors

78 bill sponsors

Actions

2 actions

Date Action
Feb. 04, 2025 Introduced in House
Feb. 04, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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