Social Security COVID Correction and Equity Act
Latest action · Dec 9, 2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7328)
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedDec 9, 2020
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Social Security COVID Correction and Equity Act
This bill expands the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits program, temporarily expands the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and otherwise modifies these programs.
Specifically, the bill revises OASDI benefits by (1) modifying funding formulas, (2) extending eligibility for certain benefits, and (3) increasing income thresholds used to determine the percentage of benefits subject to federal income tax.
Changes to OASDI funding formulas include (1) increasing the primary insurance amount, (2) establishing new methods to calculate benefits for individuals with lifetime low earnings and for widows and widowers, and (3) modifiying application of the national average wage index to prevent certain reductions to benefits.
In addition, children of a deceased, disabled, or retired worker remain eligible for OASDI benefits through age 22 if they are full-time students. Under current law, they receive benefits through age 18.
The bill also extends dependent child benefits under the OASDI program to specified family members other than grandparents or step-grandparents, including in cases where a court grants custody of the dependent child to an eligible family member. To receive benefits under current law, either both parents must be disabled or deceased or a grandparent or step-grandparent must legally adopt the dependent child.
The bill also temporarily increases income and resource limits for the SSI program, thereby temporarily expanding eligibility. This program helps aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources meet their basic needs.
Cosponsors 1
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Dec 11, 2020.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-CT | Richard Blumenthal | Dec 11, 2020 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Finance Committee | Referred Dec 9, 2020 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Dec 9, 2020Introduced in Senate
- Dec 9, 2020Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7328)
In the Congressional Record 1
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S7328 | Mazie K. Hirono D-HI | Dec 9, 2020 |
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 6356 | Emergency Social Security Benefits Improvement Act | Related bill | Mar 23, 2020 |
| HR 7499 | Social Security COVID Correction and Equity Act | Identical bill | Jul 9, 2020 |
Titles 2
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to prevent an unintended drop in Social Security benefits due to COVID-19 and the application of the National Average Wage Index, and improve Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits on an emergency basis.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Social Security COVID Correction and Equity Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Social Welfare.
- Appropriations
- Child health
- Disability assistance
- Elementary and secondary education
- Family relationships
- Government trust funds
- Health care costs and insurance
- Higher education
- Hospital care
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Poverty and welfare assistance
- Social security and elderly assistance
- Social Welfare
- Wages and earnings
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Dec 9, 2020Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
