Stop the Wait Act of 2023

To amend titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the disability insurance benefits waiting period for individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop the Wait Act of 2023 2. Elimination of disability waiting period for social security disability insurance benefits (a) Elimination of waiting period for disability insurance benefits Section 223 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 423 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter following subparagraph (E)— (i) by striking disability insurance benefit (i) for each month , or (iii) disability insurance benefit (ii) by striking , but only if under such disability (B) in paragraph (2), by striking as though he had attained age 62 in— such disability insurance benefits, as though the individual had attained age 62 in the first month for which the individual becomes entitled to such disability insurance benefits, (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking Definitions of Insured Status and Waiting Period Definition of Insured Status (B) by striking For purposes of this section in any month if— For purposes of this section, an individual shall be insured for disability insurance benefits in any month if— (C) by striking paragraph (2); (D) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively (and adjusting the margins accordingly); (E) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)— (i) by redesignating clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively; and (ii) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by striking clause (i) subparagraph (A) (F) in the matter following subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by striking subparagraph (B) of this paragraph this paragraph (b) Phase-Down of waiting period for disability insurance benefits For purposes of applications for disability insurance benefits filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act and before January 1, 2028, section 223(c)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 423(c)(2) (1) For applications filed in calendar year 2023, 2024, or 2025, substitute three five fifteenth seventeenth (2) For applications filed in calendar year 2026, substitute two five fourteenth seventeenth (3) For applications filed in calendar year 2027, substitute one five thirteenth seventeenth (c) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2028, and apply with respect to applications for disability insurance benefits filed on or after January 1, 2028. (d) Conforming amendments Effective January 1, 2028: (1) Section 223(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 423(a)(1)(A) (c)(1) (c) (2) Section 7(d)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 ( 45 U.S.C. 231f(d)(3) 223(c)(1) 223(c) 3. Medicare eligibility for certain individuals during waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (a) Elimination of waiting period for certain individuals without minimum essential coverage (1) In general Section 226 the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 426 (j) (1) For purposes of applying this section in the case of an eligible individual described in paragraph (2), the following special rules shall apply: (A) Subsection (b)(2) shall be applied as if there were no requirement for any entitlement to benefits, or status, for a period of 24 months prior to receiving such benefits or status. (B) The entitlement under such subsection shall be available retroactively to the first day of the first month (rather than twenty-fifth month) of entitlement or status. (C) Subsection (f) shall not be applied. (2) For purposes of applying this section, an eligible individual (A) who has not yet attained the age of 65; (B) who is entitled to benefits described in subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(2); and (C) with respect to whom section 5000A(e)(1)(A) 8 percent 8.5 percent . (2) Conforming amendments Section 1811 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395c (A) by striking and (B) by inserting the following before the period at the end: , and (4) eligible individuals (as described in section 226(j)(2)) (b) Special enrollment period and coverage application for certain individuals without minimum essential coverage Section 1837 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395p (p) (1) In applying this section in the case of an eligible individual who is entitled to benefits under part A pursuant to the operation of section 226(j), the following special rules shall apply: (A) The initial enrollment period under subsection (d) shall begin on the first day of the first month in which the individual satisfies the requirement of section 1836(a)(1). (B) In applying subsection (g)(1), the initial enrollment period shall begin on the first day of the first month of entitlement to disability insurance benefits referred to in such subsection. (2) In applying this section in the case of an individual who became entitled to benefits under part A, but had not been entitled to such benefits for a period of 24 calendar months as of the date of enactment of the Stop the Wait Act of 2023 .

Summary: Stop the Wait Act of 2023 This bill allows individuals with disabilities to begin receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in the month they become eligible for the benefits. It also allows these individuals to immediately enroll in Medicare if they cannot afford minimum essential coverage. (Under current law, an individual must generally wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.)