Social Security Update: Thousands Would Get Major Benefit Boost Under Bill
Summary
A new bill called the We Can't Wait Act of 2026 aims to let people approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) start getting payments right away instead of waiting five months. This change would help people who are seriously ill or disabled get money sooner, but those who receive early payments would accept slightly smaller monthly benefits to keep the program’s costs balanced.Key Facts
- The bill was introduced by Republican Representative Carol Miller and has bipartisan support.
- Currently, SSDI recipients wait five months after approval before getting their first payment.
- The waiting period can cause financial hardship, especially for those with severe or terminal illnesses.
- The bill lets beneficiaries choose to receive benefits during the waiting period in exchange for a smaller permanent monthly payment.
- This change is designed to keep the Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund financially stable.
- About 48,000 people filed for bankruptcy waiting for disability appeals decisions from 2014 to 2019.
- Over 100,000 people died before getting a final disability appeal decision between 2008 and 2019.
- The Social Security Administration's Chief Actuary will decide the exact reduction in benefits for early payment.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
