Bill · S. 5006· Senate(119-S-5006)
Work Without Worry Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/15/2026
- Last activity
- 7/15/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Ron Wyden
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Work Without Worry Act of 2026 amends the Social Security Act to change how childhood disability beneficiaries are handled. It adjusts the requirements for when a disability must have begun and how it is determined for those under age 22. The bill allows certain applications for child's insurance benefits to be treated as applications for disability or old-age insurance benefits depending on the person's age and insurance status. It also specifies that a child does not need to be continuously disabled from the time the disability began until the application is filed.
Yes· 3 of 11
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+8
Significantly lowers barriers to receiving Social Security benefits for those with childhood onset disabilities.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+6
Provides a path to benefits for those with disabilities beginning before age 22.
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?+6
Expands eligibility and removes restrictive continuity requirements for childhood disability benefits.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expanded Disability Criteria: Section 2(a)(1) allows for disabilities that can be "reasonably presumed" to have begun before age 22, which may make it easier for some to qualify.
-
Simplified Application Process: Section 2(a)(2)(A) and (B) allow a single application for child's insurance benefits to be deemed an application for disability or old-age insurance benefits, reducing the number of filings required.
-
Flexible Disability Timeline: Section 2(a)(2)(12) removes the requirement for a child to be continuously under a disability between the start of the disability and the date they apply for benefits.
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Benefit Optimization: Section 2(a)(2)(C) ensures that if a person is entitled to a higher monthly amount through old-age or disability insurance than through child's insurance, they can receive that higher amount.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Delayed Implementation: Section 2(b) states that these changes only apply to applications filed 24 months after the act is enacted, meaning people cannot benefit from these changes immediately.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+8Good For Young Adults+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Children+4Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Middle Aged+2Good For Retirees+2Good For Seniors+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+6Improves Social Security+5Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts