We Can't Wait Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
Introduced
Summary
allow disabled applicants to elect to receive disability insurance benefits during the statutory waiting period. It would tie early payments to a sliding percentage of the otherwise-calculated benefit and add actuarial and administrative safeguards meant to protect the Disability Insurance Trust Fund.
Show full summary
- Disabled applicants and families: People under the statute's early retirement age would be able to choose written elections to get part of their benefits during the waiting period. The initial design sets a sliding rate starting at 94.25% for months in the first 36-month window.
- Social Security Administration and representatives: The SSA would need to update application forms within 180 days and post public information and a calculator so applicants can see how elections affect monthly and past-due benefits. Elections must be made in writing and can be selected on application forms or by appointed representatives.
- Disability Insurance Trust Fund oversight: The Chief Actuary would compute a percentage to make the 75-year fiscal impact actuarially neutral and then update that percentage every five years after the initial 36-month period. The Commissioner must certify percentages at or above 91% or the Chief Actuary must report recommendations to Congress.
*The change would be designed to be actuarially neutral for the Disability Insurance Trust Fund over 75 years through required percentage calculations and certification rules.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Get SSDI during waiting period
If enacted, this bill would let people who have not reached early retirement age choose in writing to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) during the normal waiting period. The choice must be made on the application or in a written election during short windows tied to the application, reconsideration, hearing, or when a representative payee is named. If you elect, your monthly payment for any month during or after the waiting period would be your normal SSDI amount multiplied by a set percentage. For the first 36 months after the rule starts that percentage would be 94.25 percent. The Social Security Administration would update forms within 180 days and post public information and a calculator showing the effect of the choice.
Actuarial review and certification for SSDI
If enacted, the bill would require the Chief Actuary to compute a percentage that makes the 75-year cost to the Disability Insurance Trust Fund the same if everyone elected waiting-period benefits as if no one did. The first calculation is due by the end of the initial 36-month period after the rule takes effect and then every five years. The Commissioner must certify any calculated percentage that is at least 91 percent to the Managing Trustee. If the Commissioner does not certify a percentage, the Chief Actuary must report to Congress within two years with recommendations for administrative or legislative changes to achieve 75-year actuarial neutrality.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Cosponsors
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov