The Stop the Wait Act would amend the Social Security Act to give anyone approved for SSDI immediate
access to Medicare benefits. It also would phase out the five-month waiting period between SSDI
approval and the distribution of benefits.
Democratic lawmakers initially proposed the bill in 2019, but it stalled. It was the influx of long COVID
disability claims that rejuvenated the effort in February of this year. Again, however, the measure has
stalled and has not left the preliminary committee stages.