In the final days of 2020 Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed a law that would eliminate the five-month waiting period to collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for people who are diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Many have questioned the logic of making SSDI beneficiaries endure a five-month waiting period before they are eligible for benefits even though Social Security concluded they were already disabled, but it was a major hardship for people who were diagnosed with a terminal illness and sometimes never even lived to see the benefits they were qualified for. This new legislation only applies to people who have been diagnosed with ALS and no other conditions. A diagnosis of ALS is devastating to an individual and their families, but there are other terminal illnesses where claimants still have to endure a five-month waiting period like terminal cancer. It is time Social Security eliminated the five-month waiting period for all these types of cases. Below is a description of the new legislation passed.
ALS Disability Insurance Access Act
Prior to the new bill, the expedited approval meant only that an individual could receive SSI and Medicaid. They still had to wait five months to receive their Social Security disability benefits, which are based on their work history and generally substantially higher than the SSI amount. In addition, an individual approved for SSDI benefits for ALS becomes eligible for Medicare at the same time. (Most other individuals must wait two years for Medicare eligibility.)
The five-month delay was especially devastating for individuals with ALS, many of whom require expensive care and equipment during that period as the disease often progresses quickly. Advocates have fought for the passage of this bill since 2016. Today, we can celebrate the passage of this bill as one less bureaucratic obstacle for individuals facing ALS, and their families.
