Work Without Worry Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Removes work disincentives for people whose disabilities began before age 22. This bill would rewrite how childhood-onset disability is judged so that holding a job or earning income does not automatically block a finding that the impairment began before age 22.
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- People who had disabilities as children: Changes the test so eligibility can rest on whether the impairment began before age 22 or can reasonably be presumed to have begun then. It also allows that the impairment could have been disabling before age 22 even if the person did substantial gainful activity.
- Applicants and benefit routing: Creates rules that treat some filings for child's insurance benefits as simultaneous applications for disability or old-age benefits depending on age and insured status. It also says the system will pay the larger old-age or disability amount instead of the child's benefit when that amount is higher.
- Timing and continuity: Clarifies a child does not need to be continuously disabled from onset to filing. The changes would apply to applications filed on or after 24 months after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New rules for disabled children's benefits
If enacted, the bill would change Social Security rules for people whose disability began before age 22. It would set a two-part onset test. First, the impairment must have begun before age 22 or be the type the Commissioner can reasonably presume did. Second, the impairment must have been able to support a disability finding before age 22, even if the person had worked. The bill would remove the rule that a child be continuously disabled from onset to filing. A filing for a child's insurance benefit would also count as an application for disability or old-age benefits in many cases, depending on age and insured status. But if the old-age or disability benefit would be larger at filing, the child would not receive the child's insurance benefit. The comparison would use the other benefit amount before application of section 224. These rules would apply to applications filed on or after the date that is 24 months after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov