H.R. 930

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 4, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Doggett

H.R. 930

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stop the Wait Act of 2025.

(a) Elimination of waiting period for disability insurance benefits
- Section 223 of the Social Security Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 423
  - in subsection (a)—
    - in paragraph (1), in the matter following subparagraph (E)—
      - (i) by striking disability insurance benefit (i) for each monthand all that follows through and inserting , or (iii); and
      - (ii) by striking and all that follows through ; and
    - in paragraph (2), by striking as though he had attained age 62 in—and all that follows through and inserting such disability insurance benefits,; and
  - in subsection (c)—
    - in the subsection heading, by striking Definitions of Insured Status and Waiting Periodand inserting Definition of Insured Status;
    - by striking For purposes of this sectionand all that follows through and inserting in any month if—;
    - by striking paragraph (2);
    - by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively (and adjusting the margins accordingly);
    - 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)and inserting subparagraph (A); and
    - in the matter following subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by striking each place it appears and inserting 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, 2030, section 223(c)(2) of the Social Security Act () shall be applied by making the following substitutions: 42 U.S.C. 423(c)(2)
  - For applications filed in calendar years 2025, 2026, or 2027, substitute for and for each place it appears. three five fifteenth seventeenth
  - For applications filed in calendar year 2028, substitute for and for each place it appears. two five fourteenth seventeenth
  - For applications filed in calendar year 2029, substitute for and for each place it appears. one five thirteenth seventeenth
(c) Effective date
- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2030, and apply with respect to applications for disability insurance benefits filed on or after January 1, 2029.
(d) Conforming amendments
- Effective January 1, 2030:
  - Section 223(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act () is amended by striking (c)(1)and inserting (c). 42 U.S.C. 423(a)(1)(A)
  - Section 7(d)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 () is amended by striking 223(c)(1)and inserting 223(c). 45 U.S.C. 231f(d)(3)

(a) Elimination of waiting period for certain individuals without minimum essential coverage
- (1) In general
  - Section 226 the Social Security Act () is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 42 U.S.C. 426
    - (j)
      - For purposes of applying this section in the case of an eligible individual described in paragraph (2), the following special rules shall apply:
        
        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.
        
        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.
        
        Subsection (f) shall not be applied.
      - For purposes of applying this section, an is an individual, with respect to a month— eligible individual
        
        who has not yet attained the age of 65;
        
        who is entitled to benefits described in subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(2); and
        
        with respect to whom of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 would apply if the reference to in such section were a reference to . 8 percent 8.5 percent section 5000A(e)(1)(A)
- (2) Conforming amendments
  - Section 1811 of the Social Security Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 1395c
    - at the end of paragraph (2), by striking ;
    - by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
      - eligible individuals (as described in section 226(j)(2)).
    - by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(b) Special enrollment period and coverage application for certain individuals without minimum essential coverage
- Section 1837 of the Social Security Act () is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 42 U.S.C. 1395p
  - (o)
    - 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:
      - 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).
      - 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.
    - 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 2025, and is entitled to such benefits pursuant to the application of section 226(j), the initial enrollment period under subsection (d) for such individual shall begin on the first day of the first month following the date of enactment of the Stop the Wait Act of 2025 and shall end seven months later.