Thousands Could See a Major Social Security Benefit Boost Under New Bill

Social Security senior benefits support millions of Americans every month, and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) also plays a key role in supporting Americans living with disabilities. A new bill could make it easier for SSDI applicants to access their benefits more quickly, delivering essential financial support to beneficiaries who may face expenses like medical bills and housing costs and who need immediate financial support.

Here's what you should know about this new bill, the SSDI program, and how a change might impact beneficiaries.

How SSDI applications and benefits currently work

Current law requires individuals who are approved for SSDI to generally wait five months before receiving their monthly benefits. That five-month waiting period may result in significant financial hardship for applicants who are disabled and are unable to work.

Beneficiaries have no choice regarding the waiting period, and the waiting period rule is applied to all applicants regardless of their financial situation.

The We Can't Wait Act of 2026

Republican Representative Carol Miller introduced the We Can't Wait Act of 2026 in late August. If enacted, the bill would allow SSDI recipients to start receiving their SSDI benefits during the program's five-month waiting period. In exchange for the ability to receive their benefits early, beneficiaries' monthly benefit amounts would be permanently and modestly reduced.

The reduction helps keep the Disability Insurance Trust Fund balanced and financially neutral long-term. The benefit reduction amount would be periodically recalculated by the Social Security Administration's Chief Actuary.

Earlier in 2026, Senators Susan Collins and Maggie Hassan introduced a bipartisan Senate version of the bill.

The financial impact of having to wait five months for benefits

Waiting five months for benefits may be financially devastating for SSDI beneficiaries. Newly disabled applicants may find themselves suddenly unable to work and without income. Applicants facing terminal diagnoses may have significant medical bills and urgent financial needs.

The process of qualifying for SSDI is long in itself. Qualifying may take an average of six to eight months, though some applicants may be fast-tracked and others might spend years appealing the process in an effort to get approved. The five-month period is enacted once an applicant is approved, and it begins on the official onset date of the individual's disability.

How the SSDI appeal process may further delay benefits

Many SSDI applicants may have to endure the appeal process before being approved for benefits. SSA statistics indicate that just 21% of first applications are approved, and 67% of first applications are denied.

As of January 2025, nearly 300,000 SSDI applicants were still waiting on their appeals. Applicants faced an average appeal hearing wait time of 291 days, or just over 9.5 months.

Those delays may have life-changing financial impacts on SSDI recipients. According to a 2020 Government Accountability Office report, approximately 48,000 people filed for bankruptcy while waiting for disability appeal decisions between fiscal years 2014 and 2019. Between fiscal years 2008 and 2019, approximately 109,725 people died before they received a final decision on an SSDI appeal.

The tradeoff of the bill

If passed, the bill would offer SSDI recipients the option to start receiving benefits without the delay of the five-month waiting period, but that option comes with a tradeoff. Recipients who choose to receive their benefits immediately after approval would also be required to accept a small permanent reduction in their monthly benefit amounts.

Whether that tradeoff makes sense depends on many factors, including the applicant's financial situation when they apply for SSDI and their life expectancy. If an applicant faces a terminal diagnosis, receiving their payments immediately, even at a reduced amount, likely makes financial sense. But for applicants who are expected to live and collect benefits for years, waiting the five months and then receiving benefits at their full amount may allow the beneficiary to ultimately collect more in benefits over their life.

The benefits reduction may not be ideal for some, but currently SSDI recipients have no option to access their benefits earlier. The bill would give them that choice.

Bottom line

The House version of the bill, which was just introduced, has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. The Senate version sits with the Senate Finance Committee. Both the House and Senate versions have bipartisan sponsors, and since it wouldn't increase SSDI program costs, it might have a chance of passing. The House and Senate need to both approve the bill before it may be sent on for a presidential signature and enacted into law.

If you or a loved one anticipate qualifying for SSDI, be sure to monitor this bill's progress, as it could give recipients more options. It's also a good idea to save as much money as possible in an emergency account to help navigate the period when you're waiting on SSDI approval and might not have income. Being as proactive as possible when anticipating a major life change may help minimize your financial stress and keep you on track for retirement, too.

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