Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act
Summary
The "Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act" aims to amend Title II of the Social Security Act. It allows individuals with incurable terminal illnesses on the Compassionate Allowance list to receive disability insurance benefits without a waiting period. The act also prohibits concurrent receipt of disability insurance benefits and unemployment insurance.
Expected Effects
This act will expedite access to disability benefits for terminally ill individuals. It will also change the rules around receiving both disability and unemployment benefits. The Commissioner of Social Security will publish a list of qualifying conditions, updated every 5 years.
Potential Benefits
- Expedited access to disability benefits for terminally ill individuals.
- Provides financial relief sooner to those with limited time.
- Requires the Social Security Administration to maintain and update a list of qualifying conditions.
- Ensures that Compassionate Allowance Conditions list additions require Congressional approval.
- Streamlines the application process for eligible individuals.
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduction in benefit amount for those who elect to receive benefits without a waiting period (benefit reduced to 93%).
- Prohibition on concurrent receipt of disability and unemployment benefits may negatively impact some individuals.
- Potential administrative burden for the Social Security Administration in implementing and maintaining the list of qualifying conditions.
- The act introduces a new layer of complexity to the disability benefits system.
- The 5-year average life expectancy requirement could exclude some individuals with serious illnesses.
Constitutional Alignment
The act appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause, as it seeks to provide assistance to a vulnerable population. Congress's power to legislate in this area stems from Article I, Section 8, which grants it the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).