I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 316

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate benefit disparities

by increasing primary insurance amounts, in cases where the benefits

involved are computed under the present formula (enacted in 1977),

to the extent necessary to assure that such benefits are no less than

they would have been if computed under the pre-1977 formula.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 5, 1993

Mr. QUILLEN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate

benefit disparities by increasing primary insurance

amounts, in cases where the benefits involved are computed under the present formula (enacted in 1977), to

the extent necessary to assure that such benefits are

no less than they would have been if computed under

the pre-1977 formula.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2

•HR 316 IH

1 SECTION 1. PRIMARY INSURANCE AMOUNTS TO BE NO

2 LOWER THAN THOSE DETERMINED UNDER

3 PRE-1977 FORMULA.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 215 of the Social Security

5 Act (42 U.S.C. 415) is amended by adding at the end the

6 following new subsection:

7 ‘‘Primary Insurance Amounts to Be No Lower than

8 Those Determined under Pre-1977 Formula

9 ‘‘(j)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this

10 title, in any case where—

11 ‘‘(A) a primary insurance amount as otherwise

12 determined under this section is lower than it would

13 be if it were determined under the pre-1977 formula,

14 or

15 ‘‘(B) the maximum amount of benefits payable

16 on the basis of any primary insurance amount as

17 otherwise determined under section 203(a) is lower

18 than it would be if it were determined under the pre19 1977 formula,

20 such primary insurance amount or maximum amount of

21 benefits (as otherwise so determined) shall be increased

22 to the amount at which it would be fixed if it had been

23 determined under the pre-1977 formula, as though title

24 II of the Social Security Amendments of 1977 (and any

25 subsequent amendments to the provisions affected by such

26 title) had not been enacted.
3

•HR 316 IH

1 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘pre2 1977 formula’ means (with respect to a primary insurance

3 amount) the provisions governing the computation of pri4 mary insurance amounts which were contained in this sec5 tion as in effect immediately prior to the enactment of the

6 Social Security Amendments of 1977, or (with respect to

7 the maximum amount of benefits payable on the basis of

8 a given primary insurance amount) the provisions govern9 ing the determination of maximum benefits which were

10 contained in section 203(a) as in effect immediately prior

11 to the enactment of such amendments.’’.

12 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

13 (1) Section 215(a)(1)(A) of such Act (42

14 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘shall

15 (except as otherwise provided in this section)’’ and

16 inserting ‘‘shall, subject to subsection (j) (and except

17 as otherwise provided in this section),’’.

18 (2) Section 203(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.

19 403(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘except as pro20 vided in paragraphs (3) and (6)’’ and inserting

21 ‘‘subject to section 215(j) and except as provided in

22 paragraphs (3) and (6) of this subsection’’.

23 SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

24 The amendments made by the first section of this Act

25 shall apply with respect to monthly insurance benefits pay-
4

•HR 316 IH

1 able under title II of the Social Security Act for months

2 after the month in which this Act is enacted.

Æ