Disabled Americans can get SSDI now—but at permanent cost
H.R. 10193 — We Can't Wait Act of 2026 · Filed by Carol Miller (R-WV) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Aug 31, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill allows disabled individuals to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits during the mandatory 5-month waiting period that normally precedes benefit payments. Those who elect early receipt receive a permanently reduced benefit (starting at 94.25% of their full amount) for life, with the reduction adjusted every 5 years to keep the program's 75-year fiscal impact neutral. The election is voluntary and can be made or revoked during specific windows tied to application, reconsideration, or hearing stages.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a voluntary trade: disabled individuals can receive SSDI earlier (during the waiting period) in exchange for accepting a permanently reduced benefit amount. This is neither a pure expansion nor a pure cut—it is a structured choice that shifts timing and amount in tandem.
What the text implies
- Individuals in acute financial crisis during the waiting period may feel compelled to elect early receipt even if the permanent reduction is actuarially unfavorable to them personally, creating a form of coerced choice under duress.
- The 94.25% reduction is fixed for 36 months, then adjusted every 5 years based on actuarial calculations. If the adjustment mechanism fails or Congress does not act on the Chief Actuary's recommendations, the program's fiscal neutrality could drift, creating long-term trust fund pressure.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Disabled individuals gain immediate access to income during a critical 5-month waiting period when they are most vulnerable and have no other SSDI income, addressing a real hardship. However, they permanently sacrifice a portion of their lifetime benefits to do so—a trade-off that may be rational for those in crisis but represents a long-term cost to their economic security, particularly for those with longer life expectancies or changing circumstances.