Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act

This bill aims to protect and improve Social Security services for the public. It locks in steady funding to run the agency and shields those funds from budget cuts and caps, so offices can stay open and staffed. It also adds $2 billion over 10 years to cut backlogs, improve technology, expand online services (including an SSI application), and reach more families of children with disabilities who may qualify for benefits . The agency must keep at least the same number of field and hearing offices as of January 1, 2025, maintain live phone help, improve wait times within 12 months, avoid hiring freezes, and keep staffing at or above 2024 levels; it must also offer accessible online options to apply, file claims, and update direct deposit info .

The bill strengthens privacy and fairness. Political appointees and special government employees cannot access systems with people’s Social Security data, with new civil and criminal penalties for violations and required investigations and reports to Congress . It tightens hiring rules to prevent shifting many career jobs into political positions without limits or consent, and requires OPM approval for certain transfers . It also improves accuracy of the Death Master File by allowing a death to be recorded only with clear and convincing evidence and by requiring notice to agencies when errors are found . For people who were overpaid, the standard monthly repayment is capped at the greater of 10% of the benefit or $10 (unless there’s fraud or the person chooses a higher amount), and this applies to cases not yet recovered back to March 25, 2024 . The bill funds state Protection and Advocacy systems and community groups to help people with disabilities apply for SSI/SSDI, navigate appeals, and protect their legal rights, with set minimum grants and annual funding through 2030 .

Key points

• Who is affected: Social Security applicants and beneficiaries, especially people with disabilities and families of children with disabilities; SSA workers; the public relying on field offices and phone service .
• What changes: Stable, protected admin funding; $2B to reduce backlogs and improve tech; no office closures or hiring freezes; stronger data privacy rules; fairer overpayment collections; grants for legal help and application support .
• When: Many funding and office-access rules begin in or before fiscal year 2026; office protections are treated as if in effect January 1, 2025; the overpayment rule applies to determinations on or after March 25, 2024 and to amounts not yet recovered .