Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8490
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Social Welfare
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026 (H.R. 8490) aims to provide retirement security for unpaid family caregivers by crediting them with "deemed wages" (fictional earnings) for Social Security (SS) benefits. It recognizes caregiving as essential work, particularly for children, the ill, disabled, or elderly, and addresses gaps for those excluded from SS due to unpaid family care.
Key Provisions
- Qualifying Caregiving:
- A qualifying month is one where the caregiver provides at least 80 hours of unpaid care to a dependent relative before reaching retirement age.
- Dependent relatives include:
- Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews (or those the caregiver acts as a parent to) under age 12.
- Family members (e.g., children over 12, parents, siblings, spouses, domestic partners) who are chronically dependent—needing daily help with at least two activities of daily living (ADLs) like eating or bathing, or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) like meal prep or shopping.
- VA assistance to caregivers of eligible veterans does not count as pay.
- Deemed Wages:
- Credits 50% of the national average wage index (from two years prior) per qualifying month.
- If the caregiver had some actual wages, credits the difference above half of those wages.
- Limited to the last 60 qualifying months (up to 5 years total).
- Applies only if it increases SS benefits or lump-sum death payments starting after December 2026.
- Application and Oversight:
- Caregivers must apply to the Social Security Administration (SSA) with relative's details, physician documentation (if not a young child), and verification.
- Ongoing certifications required; SSA must issue rules within 1 year to prevent fraud.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new Section 235 to Title II of the Social Security Act, creating deemed wages specifically for unpaid caregivers—previously, only paid work counted toward SS credits.
- Updates wage index definitions to include these credits.
- No changes to overall SS eligibility rules, but introduces verification processes and a cap to limit scope.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Boosts SS retirement benefits for unpaid caregivers, improving their economic security and recognizing non-paid labor; could affect up to 5 years of credits per person.
- On Government Agencies: SSA gains new administrative duties (applications, verifications, anti-fraud rules), potentially increasing workload and costs to SS trust funds (noted as solvent until 2034).
- Broader Effects: May encourage family caregiving over paid options; fiscal strain on SS if widely used, though capped.
Main Stakeholders
- Unpaid Family Caregivers: Primary beneficiaries, especially those caring for young children or chronically ill/disabled relatives.
- Dependent Relatives: Children under 12, disabled/elderly family members.
- Social Security Administration: Handles implementation, applications, and fraud prevention.
- Taxpayers and SS Beneficiaries: Indirectly affected via trust fund costs.
- Veterans and VA Programs: Explicitly accommodated for family caregivers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Introduces fraud safeguards and documentation requirements, balancing access with program integrity; relies on SSA rulemaking for enforcement.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; expands SS benefits under Congress's taxing/spending authority without altering core eligibility.
- Political: Highlights unpaid care's value and SS solvency; expresses congressional intent to fix exclusions for paid family caregivers under state programs, potentially paving way for broader reforms. Neutral on partisanship, focused on equity for caregivers.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-23 — PDF (9 pages)