[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 106 (Thursday, June 28, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8708-S8709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD:
  S. 1736. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to 
provide that the eligibility requirements for disability insurance 
benefits under which an individual must have 20 quarters of Social 
Security coverage in the 40 quarters preceding a disability shall not 
be applicable in the case of a disabled individual suffering from a 
covered terminal disease; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Claire Collier 
Social Security Disability Insurance Fairness Act. This legislation 
will ensure that individuals suffering from certain terminal diseases 
are entitled to receive Social Security disability benefits. Under 
current law, an individual who contracts a covered terminal illness, 
and who has not been part of the workforce for a period of time, may 
not qualify for Social Security disability benefits they would 
otherwise be entitled to.
  This bill is named after Claire Collier, a Stamford, Connecticut 
mother of three, who I first met a few years ago after she was 
diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, in 2003. ALS, 
commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, first strikes the nerve cells, 
then weakens the muscles, causes paralysis and tragically leads to 
death.
  Three years ago, Claire applied for Social Security disability 
benefits. However, she was denied the benefits because she did not have 
enough work credits. Ms. Collier, who worked for more than 15 years as 
an events planner, does not qualify for Social Security disability 
benefits, even though she paid Social Security and Medicare taxes for 
more than 15 years. The reason is the Social Security Act mandates that 
an individual earn 20 quarters of Social Security earnings during the 
10 years preceding a disability to collect benefits. This discriminates 
against people who have earned the required number of credits outside 
of the time period prescribed under current law.
  Under the present system, hardworking Americans, such as Claire 
Collier, are being denied benefits at a time when they need them most. 
In Claire's case, the rules are especially unfair since she has been 
penalized for choosing to stay at home with her children prior to being 
diagnosed with ALS.
  The bill I am sponsoring will change the eligibility standard. The 
Claire Collier legislation will amend the Social Security Act to 
provide that the eligibility standard for disability insurance benefits 
not be applicable in the case of a disabled individual suffering from a 
terminal illness.
  Passage of this important legislation will simply ensure fairness. We 
should reward individuals who contribute to Social Security, not punish 
them. The Claire Collier Social Security Disability Insurance Fairness 
Act will eliminate inequity in the current system. I look forward to 
working with

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my colleagues to see that this legislation is not only passed by this 
body soon, but that it is signed into law.
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