Strengthening Social Security for Long Career Workers Act

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to strengthen Social Security for long career workers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Social Security for Long Career Workers Act 2. Strengthening Social Security for long career workers (a) In general Section 215(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1) (1) by redesignating subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by section 101) as subparagraph (F); and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) (as redesignated by section 101) the following new subparagraph: (E) (i) In the case of an individual who initially becomes eligible for old-age or disability insurance benefits, or who dies (before becoming eligible for such benefits), in any calendar year after 2027, the primary insurance amount computed under subparagraph (A) with respect to the individual shall not be less than the greater of— (I) the minimum amount computed under subparagraph (C), or (II) except as provided in clause (iv), in the case of an individual who has at least 10 years of work (as defined in clause (iii)), the minimum amount determined under clause (ii). (ii) (I) The minimum amount determined under this clause is the dollar amount equal to 1/12 (II) For purposes of subclause (I), the applicable percentage is the percentage specified in connection with the number of years of work, as set forth in the following table: If the number of years The applicable of work is: percentage is: 11 3 12 6 13 9 14 12 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 25 21 25 2/3 22 26 1/3 23 27 24 27 2/3 25 28 1/3 26 29 27 29 2/3 28 30 1/3 29 31 30 31 2/3 31 32 1/3 32 33 33 33 2/3 34 34 1/3 35 or greater 35. (iii) (I) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term year of work (II) For purposes of applying the table in clause (ii) in the case of an individual entitled to disability insurance benefits under section 223, the number of years of work of such individual shall be deemed to be the product of 35 times the ratio of the actual number of years of work of such individual to the number of such individual’s benefit computation years. Any such product which is not a multiple of one shall be rounded to the next higher multiple of one. (III) In the case of a widow, surviving divorced wife, widower, surviving divorced husband, or surviving divorced parent (hereinafter in this subclause referred to as the surviving beneficiary insured individual (iv) In the case of an individual who initially becomes eligible for old-age or disability insurance benefits, or who dies (before becoming eligible for such benefits), in any year during the 9-year period beginning with 2028, the primary insurance amount computed under subparagraph (A) with respect to the individual shall not be less than the greater of— (I) the minimum amount computed under subparagraph (C), or (II) the applicable phase-in percentage (specified for such calendar year in the table set forth in clause (v)) of the minimum amount determined under clause (ii). (v) The table set forth in this clause is as follows: The applicable phase-in For the calendar year: percentage is: 2028 10 2029 20 2030 30 2031 40 2032 50 2033 60 2034 70 2035 80 2036 90. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 209(k)(1) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 409(k)(1) 215(a)(1)(F), 215(a)(1)(E),

Summary: Strengthening Social Security for Long Career Workers Act This bill increases Social Security benefits for certain lifetime low earners. Specifically, it establishes a new method to calculate the Special Minimum Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) for workers who become eligible for benefits after calendar year 2027. The Special Minimum PIA is an alternative benefit formula that increases benefits paid to workers who earn low wages throughout their careers and, under current law, is adjusted annually based on price growth. This bill revises the method of calculating the Special Minimum PIA by tying it to the national average wage index, which generally grows faster than the price index currently being used.