1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i The ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019 (S. 578) December 7, 2020 On December 2, 2020, the Senate passed the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019 (S. 578), which would amend the Social Security Act to elimin
2、ate the five-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for disabled workers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This Insight discusses the waiting period for SSDI and congressional action on S. 578. SSDI SSDI provides benefits to non-elderly disabled workers
3、 and their eligible dependents. To qualify, individuals must have worked for a sufficient period in Social Securitycovered employment and be unable to perform substantial work due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to last for at least 12 months or result in
4、 death. Disabled workers are automatically entitled to Medicare after 24 months of entitlement to SSDI. In October 2020, SSDI provided benefits to 8.2 million disabled workers and 1.5 million dependents. Five-Month Waiting Period Disabled workers must satisfy a five-month waiting period before they
