Sponsors (6)
The bill speeds eligibility and provides partial, earlier SSDI payments to people with terminal illnesses—reducing immediate hardship and increasing transparency—but does so with reduced initial benefit amounts, new certification requirements that may impede some applicants, and higher program costs that affect taxpayers.
People with terminal illnesses: submitting a certified diagnosis from two independent physicians lets them be treated as "under a disability" immediately, speeding eligibility determinations and earlier access to SSDI.
People with terminal illnesses: receive partial SSDI payments during the waiting period (50% first month, 75% second month), reducing immediate out-of-pocket hardship.
Taxpayers and beneficiaries: requires annual SSA reporting and a GAO review on program use, deaths shortly after benefit receipt, costs, and fraud risks, improving transparency and oversight.
People with terminal illnesses: initial payments set at 50%–75% mean substantially lower income in the first months compared with full SSDI, which may not meet urgent needs.
Patients in rural or underserved areas: requiring two independent physician certifications may delay or block access for those without timely access to multiple nonrelated providers.
People with terminal illnesses: the phased reductions and retroactive offsets (months 13–24 formula) add complexity and can create confusion and unpredictability in monthly income.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows terminally ill SSDI applicants to receive phased partial SSDI payments during the five-month waiting period, with certification rules and SSA/GAO reporting.
Introduced March 26, 2026 by John A. Barrasso · Last progress March 26, 2026
Creates a special rule allowing people with a certified terminal illness who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to receive partial SSDI payments during the normal five-month waiting period. Payments begin at reduced rates (50% then 75% for the earliest months) and phase up over time to nearly the full benefit, while requiring physician certification and annual SSA and GAO reporting on use, deaths, costs, and recommendations.