Sponsors (2)
The bill extends child’s Social Security benefits through age 26 for disabled young adults—boosting income and Medicaid continuity for them and reducing family hardship—while increasing program costs and administrative complexity.
Disabled young adults (ages 23–26) would become newly eligible for child’s Social Security benefits for up to four additional years, providing direct income support.
Individuals who gain those benefits would likely retain Medicaid eligibility protections tied to Social Security status, improving access to healthcare and continuity of services.
Families caring for disabled young adults would face reduced financial strain and lower poverty risk because of the extended benefit eligibility.
Expanding eligibility increases Social Security program costs, which could put upward pressure on payroll funding needs or require reallocations, affecting taxpayers.
The Social Security Administration and state agencies would face increased administrative burden to process more eligibility cases and to coordinate Medicaid-preservation rules.
Adding beneficiaries and benefit interactions could modestly increase program complexity for determining concurrent benefits and suspensions, creating short-term confusion for some beneficiaries and providers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Raises the maximum age for disability-based child’s Social Security benefits from 22 to 26 and updates related statutory references.
Official title: Amend title II of the Social Security Act to increase the age threshold for eligibility for child's insurance benefits on the basis of disability.
Introduced February 6, 2025 by Bill Cassidy · Last progress February 6, 2025
Raises the maximum age for an otherwise-disabled child to receive Social Security child’s insurance benefits from 22 to 26, extending eligibility for young adults with disabilities. The change updates several cross-references in the Social Security Act so related program rules and eligibility references match the new age cap. The bill expands benefit access for disabled young adults who previously aged out at 22, with modest administrative updates for the Social Security Administration and likely increased program outlays over time as more beneficiaries qualify up to age 26.