Sponsors (4)
The bill provides targeted Social Security credits and federal recognition that improve retirement and survivor protections for unpaid caregivers, but it increases program costs, creates administrative hurdles, and yields only capped, time-limited benefits for some caregivers, requiring fiscal tradeoffs or further action to expand impact.
Unpaid family caregivers (parents, family members) will receive credited earnings for up to 60 qualifying months, increasing their future Social Security retirement or disability benefits and potentially raising survivors' lump-sum death payments for covered deaths.
Caregiving is formally recognized and financially valued, which raises policy attention and could lead to supports that reduce caregiver financial strain and improve long-term retirement security for caregiving households.
The bill establishes a federal standard and documentation process (physician verification, periodic recertification) to target caregiver credits to legitimate caregiving situations and limit improper claims.
Expanding credited earnings for caregivers will increase Social Security program costs, which could place long-term pressure on trust funds and lead to higher payroll taxes or benefit tradeoffs for taxpayers and beneficiaries.
Caregivers must provide physician evidence and periodically recertify caregiving status, and SSA adjudication of qualifying months/ADL-IADL determinations may create administrative burdens, delays, and disputes that impede access to credits.
The credited-earnings benefit is limited to the most recent 60 months and capped at 50% of NAWI per month, so long-term caregivers (beyond 60 months) and very low earners may see only modest increases in benefits.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Treats certain months of unpaid family caregiving after Dec 2026 as deemed wages for Social Security calculations, crediting up to 60 months at half the national average wage with documentation and recertification rules.
Introduced April 23, 2026 by Brad Schneider · Last progress April 23, 2026
Treats certain months of unpaid family caregiving as "deemed wages" for Social Security benefit calculations for caregiving months after December 2026. Caregivers who provide at least 80 hours of unpaid care per month to qualifying dependents can receive credit for up to the most recent 60 qualifying months; credited monthly earnings equal half the national average wage index (or the excess above actual earnings). The Social Security Administration must issue application, certification, and anti-fraud rules within one year and verify care recipients' need for assistance for periodic recertification.