If you have been approved to receive Social Security disability insurance benefits (also known as SSDI, SSD, and Title II disability benefits) there is a five-month waiting period before Social Security owes you any disability benefits. This means that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will withhold five months of benefits before starting monthly payments.
WHAT IS THE MEDICARE WAITING PERIOD?
You will also have to wait 24 months (or until you reach age 65) to receive Medicare Coverage.
The waiting periods often cause extreme hardships even though you have been approved and determined to be disabled.
TWO IMPORTANT BILLS INTRODUCED
H.R. 4386 and S. 2496 are the House and Senate bill which would eliminate both of these waiting periods if passed. They have been sponsored by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rep Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). These bills, which were introduced in September 2019 are very helpful to disability claimants and beneficiaries
Please contact your senators and representatives and request that they cosponsor and support these bills. You can your local representative here.