Sponsors (2)
The bill lets disabled workers get earlier, partial DI payments and clearer decision tools, but at the cost of reduced monthly benefits for electors and potential solvency and complexity risks for the DI program.
People with disabilities and older adults can receive partial monthly DI payments during the statutory waiting period, providing earlier short-term financial support.
Representative payees can elect or confirm payments for beneficiaries who lack capacity, enabling timely access to benefits for vulnerable individuals.
The SSA must provide a public calculator and clearer application options so applicants (people with disabilities and seniors) can compare benefit choices before electing, improving transparency and decision-making.
People with disabilities and seniors who elect the early-payment option receive reduced monthly DI benefits (initially about 94.25% of the full benefit), lowering ongoing income during eligibility.
If many beneficiaries choose the option, DI Trust Fund costs could rise unless actuarial adjustments are certified, creating potential long-term solvency risks for taxpayers and future beneficiaries.
Complex election windows and the irrevocable nature of elections during eligibility periods may confuse claimants and representative payees, leading to unintended, hard-to-reverse benefit choices.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows eligible insured applicants under retirement age to elect reduced disability insurance payments during the statutory waiting period, beginning for claims filed or pending 180 days after enactment.
Official title: 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, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 25, 2026 by Susan Margaret Collins · Last progress February 25, 2026
Allows certain insured people who are younger than the Social Security retirement age and who apply for disability to choose to receive a reduced disability insurance payment during the normal waiting period while their application is pending. The law creates specific time windows to make or revoke the election, sets an initial benefit scale (94.25% multiplier for a defined initial period after a 180-day post-enactment start), requires periodic actuarial certification of the multiplier, and directs SSA to provide public information, application updates, and an online calculator. The change applies to applications filed or pending beginning the first month that starts 180 days after enactment.