For Release: Saturday, March 1, 2003
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO REMOVE THE WAITING PERIOD FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL

Carterville, Il - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced today that he has introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would remove the current five-month waiting period to receive Social Security disability benefits for the terminally ill. The bill, H.R. 976, has 28 original cosponsors.

Costello was joined at the introduction at John A. Logan College by relatives of Linda Followell, a Tamaroa resident and cancer patient, who died in December before receiving benefits. In such situations, a surviving spouse or child receives only a $255 death benefit, not retroactive disability benefits.

"We need to address this situation where a family is denied critical resources at the time they need them most," said Costello. "Families need this money to make an extremely difficult time a little less hard. The family should not be worried about how to replace that lost income - about paying bills and putting food on the table."

Costello is a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Science Committee. He was recently elected to be the Ranking Democrat on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and is a co-chair of the Rural Health Care Coalition.

###