S. 578 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 578 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 27, 2019Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Reed, Mr. Blunt, Mr. King, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Coons, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Harris, Ms. McSally, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Tester, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Warren, Ms. Collins, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Booker, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Jones, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period for disability insurance benefits under such title for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019. 2. Elimination of waiting period for social security disability insurance benefits for disabled individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (a) In general Section 223(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423(a)(1)) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (E) by striking or (ii) and inserting (ii) in the case of an individual who has been medically determined to have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for each month beginning with the first month during all of which the individual is under a disability and in which the individual becomes entitled to such insurance benefits, or (iii). (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to applications for disability insurance benefits filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.