1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “We Can't Wait Act of 2026”.
We Can't Wait Act of 2026
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to permit disabled individuals to elect to receive disability insurance benefits during the disability insurance benefit waiting period, and for other purposes.
2. Election to receive
in paragraph (1), in the matter following subparagraph (E), by striking “(i)” and all that follows through “, (ii) in” and inserting “(i) for each month beginning with the first month after the individual’s waiting period (as defined in subsection (c)(2)) in which the individual becomes so entitled to such insurance benefits unless the individual elects to receive insurance benefits during such waiting period in accordance with paragraph (3), (ii) in the case of an individual electing to receive insurance benefits during the individual’s waiting period pursuant to the preceding clause and in”;
in paragraph (2), by striking “and section 215(b)(2)(A)(ii)” and inserting “, section 215(b)(2)(A)(ii), and paragraph (3) of this subsection,”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall apply to applications for disability insurance benefits that are made or pending on or after the first day of the first month that begins after the date which is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Update to Social Security disability forms— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall update the application forms for applying for disability insurance benefits to include an option for applicants to elect to receive disability insurance benefits during their waiting period.