Disability Benefits and Policy Changes for Americans

Author: Pavel Kuljuk
Published: 2024/01/27 - Updated: 2026/02/28
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Political - Related Publications

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This information reviews the most significant federal disability policy developments affecting Americans with disabilities heading into 2024, focusing on two areas - proposed legislation and annual benefit adjustments. The central legislative event covered is Bill S. 3400, the We Can't Wait Act of 2023, introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Susan Collins, which would allow disabled individuals to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits during the current five-month waiting period rather than going without income until the sixth month after disability onset. The article includes direct responses from disability advocacy leaders, including Zoe Gross of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., of the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York, both of whom offer cautiously positive assessments while raising practical concerns about implementation. It also details the 3.2% cost-of-living adjustment applied to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for 2024, alongside updated figures for Substantial Gainful Activity, Federal Benefit Rate, and Medicare premiums. For people with disabilities, benefits counselors, and disability policy advocates, this is a useful reference for understanding what changed financially and legislatively for disabled Americans - Disabled World (DW).

Definition: Bill S.3400 - We Can't Wait Act of 2023

S.3400 (We Can't Wait Act of 2023) is 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. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the We Can't Wait Act "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..." The bill number has been referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

The Social Security Disability Insurance five-month waiting period is a statutory provision in United States federal law that requires approved SSDI applicants to wait five full calendar months from the established onset date of their disability before benefit payments begin, effectively leaving newly disabled workers without federal disability income for nearly half a year. This waiting period has been a feature of the SSDI program since its inception and applies to all qualifying disabilities except amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other compassionate allowance conditions, which were exempted beginning in 2020. Bill S. 3400, known as the We Can't Wait Act of 2023, was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Susan Collins to amend Title II of the Social Security Act and allow disabled individuals to elect to receive benefits during the waiting period rather than after it, addressing what disability advocates and policymakers have long identified as a source of financial hardship that can lead to housing instability, debt, and deteriorating health outcomes for people who are already unable to work. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance, and its bipartisan sponsorship was seen as a positive signal for potential passage, though broader reform of the Social Security disability system remains a subject of ongoing debate.

Introduction

What's New for Americans with Disabilities in the Future?

Disability services can become fairer and more efficient. The five-month waiting period to receive SSD benefits may be waived. But American disabled people will not become richer. As before, only an anti-inflationary increase in benefits was made.

Main Content

Pleasant Surprise of Legislation

The main and only legal event at the federal level is the possible adoption of bill S. 3400. This law, also known as the "We Can't Wait Act of 2023" was initiated by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

Currently SSD benefits have a five-month waiting period. That is, benefits begin to be paid in the sixth month after the onset of disability. This is very unfair and is a hardship for people with disabilities. Bill S. 3400 makes it possible to receive benefits without delay.

According to the legal wording "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. 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"

The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. So far, both parties support the law. Consensus of opinion is very important for the protection of persons with disabilities. If this continues, there is a high probability that the law will be adopted.

What do people with disabilities think about the possible adoption of the law? We asked representatives of the disabled community a question:

Your Opinion About Bill S. 3400 Also Known as the "We Can't Wait Act of 2023"?

"The Social Security system needs many sweeping systemic changes. This bill could potentially bring welcome relief to many people, but much more change is needed. A concern we have is what would happen if someone receives benefits during the waiting period but is then determined ineligible. Would they be required to pay back that money to the government? This could put many people in an impossible position. It is not clear to us from our initial reading of the bill whether that would happen, so we are reaching out to the offices to find out more",- said Director of Advocacy Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Zoe Gross.

"The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) advocates for human rights for people with disabilities which too includes removing systemic barriers. A person can become disabled at any point of her or his life. The disabled community believes that people living in the United States are temporarily abled-bodied. Thus, we know that more and more people will join this demographic. If the person is unable to work, she or he will need to receive disability-related benefits to continue to operate their day-to-day existence especially during these arduous times attributed to inflation. Legislation S. 3400, also called the We Cannot Wait Act of 2023, ensures that the disabled person can receive the life-sustaining funding needed to survive until the bureaucratic system catches up with addressing the numerous claims. We know that all businesses are short staffed and government entities are too feeling the squeeze to operate with a limited workforce. This legislation could prevent starvation, homelessness, depression, and so much more bio-psychological factors that could affect a person who is newly disabled.",- said Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York's (CIDNY) executive director, Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC.

As we see, representatives of the disabled community give a positive assessment of the law. Let's hope that the law will be adopted and effectively implemented.

Unpleasant Continuity of Benefits

Not only are fair laws are needed for a normal life. Money also makes life easier. But there are no surprises in the financial sector. Everything will be the same. The government will protect social benefits from inflation. But officials will not make disabled people richer. Benefits will not increase more than inflation.

In 2024, both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits will increase by 3.2%. The same increase was in 2023. But in 2022 benefits increased by 8.7%. There was very high inflation that year. The consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) determines the increase in these two benefits. Other payments depend on other indices. For example, The national average wage index (NAWI). But the meaning remains same.

Payments are protected from inflation, but no more. This is the amount of basic benefits for 2024.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):

For persons with disabilities other than blindness - $1,550 per month;
For persons who are blind - $2,590 per month.
Trial Work Period (TWP) - $1,110 per month.

Federal Benefit Rate (FBR):

For an eligible individual - $943 per month.
For an eligible couple - $1,415 per month.
Student Earned-Income Exclusion (SEIE) - $9,230 a year and not more $2,290 a month.
Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance - $505 (45% reduced $278) per month.
Medicare Part B Supplementary Medical Insurance - $174.70 per month.

As we see, the increase in benefits is small. For example, in 2023, SGA was $1,470 and $2,460 respectively. That is, the increase in payment was only $80 and $130. Is it possible to change the situation? We asked experts about this. All of them were asked one question:

Is it likely that benefits for disabled people will increase more than inflation? Here's What the Professionals Said:

"Unlikely and yet it's one of the most popular type of program and benefit", - President, Lake Research Partners Celinda Lake.

"Recent years witnessed substantial Social Security COLA boosts, especially during the pandemic. With trillions in stimulus and potential changes like the child tax credit, further increases may await post-2024 elections and a new Congress", - President Kaplan Strategies, Doug Kaplan.

"Maybe in the future. The answer would depend on the different aspects of the government I.e., priorities, budget constraints, and public opinion",- Policy and Law Strategist, Newby Sabrina.

Expert opinions vary. The situation may or may not improve. But this corresponds to the real situation of the disabled community. Now the situation is in a state of stability. There has not been a significant deterioration or improvement in the situation of disabled people for a long time. In order for the situation to improve, it is necessary to change federal legislation. However, this requires the combined efforts of both political parties or lobbying disabled people of their interests on a previously unseen scale. All this can happen after the elections of the President and Congress.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The two developments covered in this article - one legislative, one financial - paint a picture of incremental progress for Americans with disabilities rather than any kind of structural shift. The We Can't Wait Act addresses a real and well-documented hardship, since expecting newly disabled individuals to survive five months without income while their claim is processed has never reflected the financial reality most disabled Americans face. But even if the bill passes, it does not change the underlying benefit amounts, which continue to rise only in step with inflation and leave recipients with monthly payments that barely cover basic expenses in most parts of the country. The expert commentary gathered here is notably measured, with disability advocates welcoming the legislation while pointing out that the Social Security system needs far broader reform, and political strategists acknowledging that meaningful increases to disability benefits are unlikely without a major shift in congressional priorities. What this article captures, ultimately, is a moment where the disability community is being offered modest improvements within a system that most of the people quoted here agree is not working well enough - Disabled World (DW).

Author Credentials: Pavel Kuljuk's articles and poems are published in Australia, North America, and Europe. In recent years, he has been constantly collaborating with Australian Rural & Regional News (Australia), Red Hook Daily Catch and OpEd News (USA), and Disabled World (Canada). Kuliuk's individual publications are in Forbes (Kazakhstan), Rural 21 (Germany), London Loves Business (UK), Karrep (India), RealClearDefense (RCD), Change Links, Daily Caller (USA), and many others. Explore Pavels' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.