Stop the Wait Act
Current understanding
The Stop the Wait Act of 2025 (introduced) would phase out the five-month SSDI cash-benefit waiting period by 2030 and eliminate the 24-month Medicare waiting period for disabled individuals who cannot afford minimum essential coverage. If enacted, newly-approved SSDI beneficiaries would receive cash benefits and Medicare coverage sooner than under current law.
Evidence log
- 2026-01-15 — Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act: cross-connection with immediate-access-terminally-ill-act: Both bills target the standard SSDI five-month waiting period, but take different approaches: Stop the Wait would phase it out generally, while Immediate Access offers terminally ill beneficiaries an expedited option in exchange for a reduced monthly benefit. (novelty: 3)
- 2025-02-04 — Stop the Wait Act of 2025: cross-connection with ssa-disability-listings: SSA disability determinations trigger the SSDI waiting periods that this bill would phase out, linking listing criteria to the timing of cash benefits and Medicare eligibility. (novelty: 2)