Expedited Disability Insurance Payments for Terminally Ill Individuals Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would let people with terminal illnesses start getting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments during the current five-month waiting period, so they receive financial help much sooner when they need it most.
• To qualify, two separate doctors who are not related and do not work in the same practice must certify that the person has a terminal illness, as defined under existing Medicare hospice standards. This is designed to prevent fraud while still getting help to the right people quickly.
• Payments start at 50% of the full benefit in the first month and rise to 75% in the second month, giving terminally ill individuals immediate cash instead of nothing during the standard waiting period.
• To offset the early payments, the bill slightly reduces future monthly benefits. After two full years of receiving SSDI on this basis, the monthly benefit is permanently set at 95% of the full amount.
• The Social Security Administration must submit annual reports to Congress tracking how many people use the program, how much it costs, and recommendations for preventing fraud, waste, and abuse. The GAO must also submit its own evaluation within two years.