Kim introduces bill to eliminate long waiting periods for disability benefits

Senator Andy Kim has proposed new legislation aimed at reducing financial hardship for individuals relying on Social Security Disability Insurance. The bill seeks to gradually eliminate the five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and remove the 24-month delay before Medicare disability coverage begins. Advocates argue the current waiting periods leave disabled Americans without critical support during a vulnerable time. The measure would implement changes over a structured timeline to ease the transition for both beneficiaries and the program.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) on Thursday introduced legislation to phase out waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Medicare benefits. Kim's bill, the Stop the Wait Act, would phase out the five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits over five years as well as eliminate the 24-month waiting period for Medicare disability benefits. The...