Workers who have become disabled can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, upon applying, individuals face significant barriers to receiving needed benefits in a timely manner. First, there is a often up to a five-month waiting period after approval before benefits begin. Additionally, there is a 24-month waiting period before an individual becomes eligible for Medicare coverage. This waiting period is configured around the time in which an individual’s disability began, creating a prolonged regulated wait time that can harm individual applicants.
In 2023, approximately 30,000 Americans died during their waiting period. Under current law, waiting period exemptions exist only for specific conditions (such as ALS or End-Stage Renal Disease). The Stop the Wait Act of 2025 would eliminate waiting periods for all applicants regardless of their specific condition, ensuring persons with disabilities receive the benefits and care they have rightfully earned.
Legislative action would call for phasing out the five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits over the next five years, eliminating it by 2030. Further, this bill would eliminate the standard 24-month waiting period before disabled individuals unable to afford private health insurance become eligible for Medicare, allowing benefits to begin immediately.