S. 5428: Stop the Wait Act of 2026

This bill would change the way Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Medicare work for some people with disabilities.

What it changes for SSDI

Under current law, people who qualify for SSDI generally must wait five months before they can start receiving cash disability benefits. This bill would eliminate that waiting period for applications filed on or after January 1, 2030.

It also creates a temporary phase-down before that date for certain applications filed after the bill becomes law and before January 1, 2031:

• For applications filed in 2026, 2027, or 2028, the waiting period would be reduced to 3 months.
• For applications filed in 2029, the waiting period would be reduced to 2 months.
• For applications filed in 2030, the waiting period would be reduced to 1 month.

The bill also makes technical changes to the Social Security Act and related Railroad Retirement rules to match the new structure.

What it changes for Medicare

People who receive SSDI often must wait 24 months before Medicare coverage starts. This bill would remove that 24-month Medicare waiting period for a certain group of disabled individuals who do not have other minimum essential health coverage and meet the bill’s eligibility conditions.

For those individuals, Medicare Part A coverage would begin without the usual 24-month delay, and the bill would also give them a special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare coverage.

Who would be affected

The bill mainly affects people with disabilities who apply for SSDI, especially those who would otherwise wait months or years for benefits and Medicare coverage to begin. It would apply different timing rules depending on when the application is filed and, for Medicare, whether the person meets the bill’s specific eligibility criteria.

Relevant Companies

• None found