Social Security Benefits Protection Act of 2000

Summary: Disregards monthly benefits received for the month in which the individual dies for purposes of maximum benefit provisions.
Provides that the monthly benefit otherwise payable for the month in which the individual dies shall be payable only if the date of death occurs after the first 15 days of the month.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Benefits Protection 
Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS FOR MONTH OF BENEFICIARY'S DEATH.

    (a) Old-Age Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(a)(3) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``the month 
preceding'' in the matter following subparagraph (B).
    (b) Wife's Insurance Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--Section 202(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        402(b)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in 
                the matter immediately following clause (ii) and 
                inserting ``and ending with the month in which she dies 
                or (if earlier) with the month'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (E); and
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) 
                as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 202(b)(5)(B) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(b)(5)(B)) is amended by 
        striking ``(E), (F), (H), or (J)'' and inserting ``(E), (G), or 
        (I)''.
    (c) Husband's Insurance Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--Section 202(c)(1) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 402(c)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in 
                the matter immediately following clause (ii) and 
                inserting ``and ending with the month in which he dies 
                or (if earlier) with the month'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (E); and
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) 
                as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 202(c)(5)(B) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(c)(5)(B)) is amended by 
        striking ``(E), (F), (H), or (J)'' and inserting ``(E), (G), or 
        (I)''.
    (d) Child's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(d)(1) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in the matter 
        immediately preceding subparagraph (D) and inserting ``and 
        ending with the month in which such child dies or (if earlier) 
        with the month''; and
            (2) by striking ``dies, or'' in subparagraph (D).
    (e) Widow's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(e)(1) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with 
the month preceding the first month in which any of the following 
occurs: she remarries, dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (F) 
and inserting ``ending with the month in which she dies or (if earlier) 
with the month preceding the first month in which any of the following 
occurs: she remarries, or''.
    (f) Widower's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(f)(1) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with 
the month preceding the first month in which any of the following 
occurs: he remarries, dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (F) 
and inserting ``ending with the month in which he dies or (if earlier) 
with the month preceding the first month in which any of the following 
occurs: he remarries,''.
    (g) Mother's and Father's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(g)(1) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(g)(1)) is amended, in the matter 
following subparagraph (F)--
            (1) by inserting ``with the month in which he or she dies 
        or (if earlier)'' after ``and ending''; and
            (2) by striking ``he or she remarries, or he or she dies'' 
        and inserting ``or he or she remarries''.
    (h) Parent's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(h)(1) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(h)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with 
the month preceding the first month in which any of the following 
occurs: such parent dies, marries,'' in the matter 
following subparagraph (E) and inserting ``ending with the month in 
which such parent dies or (if earlier) with the month preceding the 
first month in which any of the following occurs: such parent 
marries,''.
    (i) Disability Insurance Benefits.--Section 223(a)(1) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with 
the month preceding whichever of the following months is the earliest: 
the month in which he dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (D) 
and inserting the following: ``ending with the month in which he dies 
or (if earlier) with whichever of the following months is the 
earliest:''.
    (j) Benefits at Age 72 for Certain Uninsured Individuals.--Section 
228(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 428(a)) is amended by 
striking ``the month preceding'' in the matter following paragraph (4).
    (k) Exemption From Maximum Benefit Cap.--Section 203 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 403) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

                  ``Exemption From Maximum Benefit Cap

    ``(m) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 
application of this section shall be made without regard to monthly 
benefits received under section 202, 223, or 228 for the month referred 
to in section 202(z), 223(j), or 228(i), respectively.''.

SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON PAYMENT OF LAST MONTHLY PAYMENT.

    (a) Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Benefits.--Section 202 of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

    ``Last Payment of Monthly Insurance Benefit Terminated by Death

    ``(z)(1) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, 
an individual's monthly insurance benefit under this section otherwise 
payable for the month in which the individual dies shall be payable 
only if such individual's date of death occurs after the first 15 days 
of such month.
    ``(2) Any benefit payment under this section for the month referred 
to in paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with section 204(d).''.
    (b) Disability Insurance Benefits.--Section 223 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

             ``Last Payment of Benefit Terminated by Death

    ``(j)(1) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, 
an individual's monthly insurance benefit under this section otherwise 
payable for the month in which the individual dies shall be payable 
only if such individual's date of death occurs after the first 15 days 
of such month.
    ``(2) Any benefit payment under this section for the month referred 
to in paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with section 204(d).''.
    (c) Benefits at Age 72 for Certain Uninsured Individuals.--Section 
228 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 428) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

             ``Last Payment of Benefit Terminated by Death

    ``(i)(1) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, 
an individual's monthly insurance benefit under this section otherwise 
payable for the month in which the individual dies shall be payable 
only if such individual's date of death occurs after the first 15 days 
of such month.
    ``(2) Any benefit payment under this section for the month referred 
to in paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with section 204(d).''.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to deaths 
occurring after the month in which this Act is enacted.