[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3517 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3517
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to make various reforms to
Social Security, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2025
Ms. Moore of Wisconsin introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to make various reforms to
Social Security, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Enhancement and
Protection Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN SPECIAL MINIMUM BENEFIT FOR LIFETIME LOW EARNERS
BASED ON YEARS IN THE WORKFORCE.
Section 215(a)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
415(a)(1)(C)) is amended to read as follows:
``(C)(i) Effective with respect to the benefits of individuals who
become eligible for old-age insurance benefits or disability insurance
benefits (or die before becoming so eligible) after 2025, no primary
insurance amount computed under subparagraph (A) may be less than the
applicable percentage of \1/12\ of the annual dollar amount determined
under clause (iv) for the year in which the amount is determined.
``(ii) For purposes of clause (i), the applicable percentage is the
percentage specified in connection with the number of years of work, as
set forth in the following table:
``If the number of The applicable
years of work is: percentage is:
11........................................... 36.7 percent
12........................................... 40.0 percent
13........................................... 43.3 percent
14........................................... 46.7 percent
15........................................... 50.0 percent
16........................................... 53.3 percent
17........................................... 56.7 percent
18........................................... 60.0 percent
19........................................... 63.3 percent
20........................................... 66.7 percent
21........................................... 70.0 percent
22........................................... 73.3 percent
23........................................... 76.7 percent
24........................................... 80.0 percent
25........................................... 83.3 percent
26........................................... 86.7 percent
27........................................... 90.0 percent
28........................................... 93.3 percent
29........................................... 96.7 percent
30 or more................................... 100.0 percent.
``(iii) The annual dollar amount determined under this clause is--
``(I) for calendar year 2026, the poverty guideline for
2025; and
``(II) for any calendar year after 2026, the annual dollar
amount for 2026 multiplied by the ratio of--
``(aa) the national average wage index (as defined
in section 209(k)(1)) for the second calendar year
preceding the calendar year for which the determination
is made, to
``(bb) the national average wage index (as so
defined) for 2024.
``(iv) For purposes of this subparagraph--
``(I) the term `number of years of work' means, with
respect to an individual, the sum of--
``(aa) \1/4\ of the total number of quarters of
coverage credited to such individual (disregarding any
fraction); and
``(bb) the number of years (not exceeding 5) in all
of which the individual provided care for a child under
6 years of age who resided in the individual's home;
and
``(II) the term `poverty guideline for 2025' means the
annual poverty guideline for 2025 (as updated annually in the
Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services
under the authority of section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1981) as applicable to a single
individual''.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INCREASED BENEFIT FOR BENEFICIARIES ON
ACCOUNT OF LONG-TERM ELIGIBILITY.
(a) In General.--Section 202 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
402) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(aa) Increase in Benefit Amounts on Account of Long-Term
Eligibility.--(1) In the case of an individual who is a qualified
beneficiary for a calendar year after 2025, the amount of any monthly
insurance benefit of such qualified beneficiary under this section or
section 223 for any month in such calendar year shall be increased in
accordance with paragraph (3).
``(2)(A) For purposes of this subsection, the term `qualified
beneficiary' for a calendar year means an individual in any case in
which such calendar year begins at least 16 years after the applicable
date of eligibility for such individual.
``(B) For purposes of this subsection, the applicable date of
eligibility for an individual is the date on which the individual on
whose wages and self-employment income the monthly insurance benefit is
based initially became eligible (or died before becoming eligible) for
old-age insurance benefits under subsection (a) or disability insurance
benefits under section 223.
``(3)(A) The increase required under paragraph (1) with respect to
the monthly insurance benefit of an individual who is a qualified
beneficiary for a calendar year shall be equal to the applicable
percentage (specified for such benefit in subparagraph (B)) of the full
increase amount for such calendar year (determined under subparagraph
(C)).
``(B) The applicable percentage specified for a monthly insurance
benefit under this subparagraph for a calendar year is the percentage
specified, in connection with the number of years ending after the
applicable date of eligibility for such individual and before such
calendar year, in the following table:
The applicable
``If the number of years is: percentage is:
16........................................... 20 percent
17........................................... 40 percent
18........................................... 60 percent
19........................................... 80 percent
20 or larger................................. 100 percent.
``(C)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the full increase
amount determined under this subparagraph for a calendar year in
connection with the monthly insurance benefit of a qualified
beneficiary is a dollar amount equal to 5 percent of the amount of the
benefit if--
``(I) such benefit were based on the primary insurance
amount determined for January of such calendar year of a
putative individual;
``(II) on January 1 of the calendar year in which occurred
the applicable eligibility date with respect to such
individual, such putative individual were fully insured,
attained retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)(2)) and
were otherwise eligible for, and applied for, old-age insurance
benefits; and
``(III) such putative individual's average indexed monthly
earnings taken into account in determining such primary
insurance amount were equal to \1/12\ of the national average
wage index (as defined in section 209(k)(1)) for the second
year prior to such calendar year.
``(ii)(I) In the case of a monthly insurance benefit under
subsection (b) or (c), the full increase amount determined under this
subparagraph shall be one-half the amount determined under clause (i);
or
``(II) in the case of a monthly insurance benefit under subsection
(d), (g), or (h), the full increase amount determined under this
subparagraph shall be the percentage of the amount determined under
clause (i) equal to the ratio which the amount of such benefit bears to
the primary insurance amount (before the application of section 203(a))
of the individual on whose wages and self-employment income the monthly
insurance benefit is based.
``(4) In the case of a qualified beneficiary who is entitled to two
or more monthly insurance benefits under this title for the same
month--
``(A) the earliest applicable date of eligibility for such
beneficiary with respect to such benefits shall be treated as
the applicable date of eligibility for such beneficiary for the
purposes of this subsection; and
``(B) such beneficiary shall be entitled to an increase
with respect only to one such benefit.
``(5) This subsection shall be applied to monthly insurance
benefits after any increase under subsection (w) and any applicable
reductions and deductions under this title.
``(6) In any case in which an individual is entitled to benefits
under both this section and section 223, the increase under this
subsection shall be paid from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance Trust Fund.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 202 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended--
(A) in the last sentence of subsection (a), by
striking ``subsection (q) and subsection (w)'' and
inserting ``subsections (q), (w), and (aa)'';
(B) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``subsection
(q)'' and inserting ``subsections (q) and (aa)'';
(C) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``subsection
(q)'' and inserting ``subsections (q) and (aa)'';
(D) in subsection (d)(2), by adding at the end the
following: ``This paragraph shall apply subject to
subsection (aa).'';
(E) in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking
``subsection (q) and subparagraph (D) of this
paragraph'' and inserting ``subsection (q), subsection
(aa), and subparagraph (D) of this paragraph'';
(F) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by striking
``subsection (q) and subparagraph (D) of this
paragraph'' and inserting ``subsection (q), subsection
(aa), and subparagraph (D) of this paragraph'';
(G) in subsection (g)(2), by striking ``Such'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (aa),
such'';
(H) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by inserting ``and
subsection (aa)'' after ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)'';
and
(I) in section 223(a)(2), by striking ``section
202(q)'' and inserting ``subsections (q) and (aa) of
section 202''.
(2) Section 209(k)(1) of such Act (402 U.S.C. 409(k)(1)) is
amended by inserting ``202(aa)(3)(C)(i)(II),'' before
``203(f)(8)(B)(ii)''.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CHILD'S BENEFIT FOR FULL-TIME POST-SECONDARY
SCHOOL STUDENTS UNDER AGE 26.
(a) In General.--Section 202(d)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 402(d)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) at the time such application was filed was unmarried
and--
``(i) had not attained the age of 18,
``(ii) was a full-time elementary or secondary
school student and had not attained the age of 19,
``(iii) was a full-time post-secondary school
student and had not attained the age of 26, or
``(iv) is under a disability (as defined in section
223(d)) which began before he attained the age of 22,
and''.
(b) Definition of Full-Time Post-Secondary School Student.--
(1) In general.--Section 202(d)(7) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(7)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by inserting ``and a `full-time post-
secondary school student' is an individual who
is in full-time attendance as a student at a
post-secondary educational institution'' before
``, as determined by the Commissioner'';
(ii) by inserting ``or a `full-time post-
secondary school student''' before ``if he is
paid by his employer'';
(iii) by inserting ``or a post-secondary
educational institution, as applicable,''
before ``at the request'';
(iv) by inserting ``or a `full-time post-
secondary school student''' before ``for the
purpose of this section''; and
(v) by inserting ``or a full-time post-
secondary school student'' before ``shall be
deemed''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting ``or a full-time post-
secondary school student'' after ``student'';
(ii) by inserting ``or a post-secondary
educational institution, as applicable'' before
``at which he has been''; and
(iii) by striking ``an elementary or
secondary school'' in each of the second and
third places in which such term appears and
inserting ``such a school''.
(2) Transition from elementary or secondary school.--
Section 202(d)(7)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(7)(B)) is
amended by adding at the end the following sentence: ``An
individual who has been in full-time attendance at an
elementary or secondary school shall, during a succeeding
period of nonattendance at such school, be deemed to be a full-
time secondary-school student if (i) such period is 4 calendar
months or less, and (ii) the individual shows to the
satisfaction of the Commissioner that he intends to be in full-
time attendance at a post-secondary educational institution
immediately following such period.''
(c) Definition of Post-Secondary Educational Institution.--Section
202(d)(7)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(7)(C)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(iii) A `post-secondary educational institution' is an
institution described in section 102 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).''.
(d) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 202(d)(1)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ``or a full-time post-
secondary school student'' after ``student''.
(2) Section 202(d)(1)(F) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(1)(F)) is amended by striking ``the earlier of--'' and
all that follows through ``the age of 19,'' and inserting the
following: ``the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,
``(ii) the month in which the child attains
the age of 19, but only if the child is not a
full-time post-secondary school student during
any part of such month, or
``(iii) the month in which the child
attains the age of 26,''.
(3) Section 202(d)(1)(G) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(1)(G)) is amended by striking ``(if later)'' and all
that follows through the ``the age of 19,'' and inserting the
following: ``(if later) the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,
``(ii) the month in which the child attains
the age of 19, but only if the child is not a
full-time post-secondary school student during
any part of such month, or
``(iii) the month in which the child
attains the age of 26,''.
(4) Section 202(d)(6)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(6)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
``(A)(i) is a full-time elementary or secondary
school student and has not attained the age of 19,
``(ii) is a full-time post-secondary school student
and has not attained the age of 26, or
``(iii) is under a disability (as defined in
section 223(d)) and has not attained the age of 22,
or''.
(5) Section 202(d)(6)(D) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(6)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
``(D) the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,
``(ii) the month in which the child attains
the age of 19, but only if the child is not a
full-time post-secondary school student during
any part of such month, or
``(iii) the month in which the child
attains the age of 26,
but only if he is not under a disability (as so
defined) in such earlier month; or''.
(6) Section 202(d)(6)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(6)(E)) is amended by striking ``(if later)'' and all
that follows to the end and inserting the following: ``(if
later) the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,