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Congress·In Committee·S. 3924

Sens. Collins and Hassan Introduce the We Can't Wait Act to Provide Early Disability Payments

We Can't Wait Act of 2026

17 days ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • Currently, people approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) must wait five months before receiving their first check. This bill lets them choose to start getting paid during that waiting period instead of going without income.

    From policy text

    “To amend title II of the Social Security Act to permit disabled individuals to elect to receive disability insurance benefits during the disability insurance benefit waiting period”
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  • If someone chooses early payments, their monthly benefit will be permanently reduced to keep the program cost-neutral. The initial reduction sets payments at 94.25% of the full amount, and this smaller check stays the same for their entire time on disability.

    From policy text

    “for any month in the 36-month period beginning with the first month that begins after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 94.25 percent”
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  • Every five years, the Social Security Administration's Chief Actuary will recalculate the reduction percentage to ensure the program remains financially balanced over a 75-year period. If the percentage drops below 91%, the Commissioner can choose not to certify it and must deliver a report to Congress with recommendations.

    From policy text

    “the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration shall calculate a percentage such that the fiscal impact over a 75-year period upon the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund if all individuals who applied pursuant to paragraph (1) to receive disability insurance benefits made an election to receive benefits during their waiting periods is equal to the fiscal impact over such period upon such Trust Fund that would have been made if all individuals who applied had not made such election”
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  • The Social Security Administration must post an online calculator so people can see exactly how the early payment option would affect their monthly check. The agency also has to update its disability application forms to include the election option within 180 days of the law's enactment.

    From policy text

    “The Commissioner shall make available to the general public by posting on a website information relating to electing to receive disability insurance benefits during the waiting period, including a calculator which an individual may use to determine the effect of electing to receive disability insurance benefits during the waiting period on the individual's disability insurance benefit”
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HealthcareLabor Employment

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 25, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

180 days after enactment

SSA updates application forms to include early payment election option

New SSDI applicants will see a checkbox or option on their forms letting them choose to receive benefits during the waiting period, with information about the tradeoff.

First full month after the 180-day implementation period

Early payment option becomes available for new and pending SSDI applications

Disabled workers can start opting to receive benefits during their five-month waiting period at 94.25% of the full amount. People with pending applications get a 45-day window to make their election.

36 months after initial implementation

Chief Actuary recalculates the benefit reduction percentage for the first time

The 94.25% rate may be adjusted up or down based on actual program experience, affecting all future applicants who elect early payment.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

We Can't Wait Act of 2026

Bill NumberS 3924
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.