Strengthening Social Security for Widows Act

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to improve social security benefits for widows and widowers in two-income households, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Social Security for Widows Act 2. Improving social security benefits for widows and widowers in two-income households (a) In general (1) Widows Section 202(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402(e) (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting and (ii) in subparagraph (C)(iii), by striking and (iii) by striking subparagraph (D); (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and (v) in the flush matter following subparagraph (E)(ii), as so redesignated, by striking or becomes entitled to an old-age insurance benefit such deceased individual, (B) by striking subparagraph (A) in paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) (A) Except as provided in subsection (k)(5), subsection (q), and subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, such widow’s insurance benefit for each month shall be equal to the greater of— (i) the primary insurance amount (as determined for purposes of this subsection after application of subparagraphs (B) and (C)) of such deceased individual, or (ii) subject to paragraph (9), in the case of a fully insured widow or surviving divorced wife, 75 percent of the sum of any old-age or disability insurance benefit for which the widow or the surviving divorced wife is entitled for such month and the primary insurance amount (as determined for purposes of this subsection after application of subparagraphs (B) and (C)) of such deceased individual. ; (C) in paragraph (5)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (1)(F) paragraph (1)(E) (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraph (1)(F)(i) paragraph (1)(E)(i) (D) by adding at the end the following: (9) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the amount determined under such paragraph shall not exceed the primary insurance amount for such month of a hypothetical individual— (A) who became entitled to old-age insurance benefits upon attaining early retirement age during the month in which the deceased individual referred to in paragraph (1) became entitled to old-age or disability insurance benefits, or died (before becoming entitled to such benefits), and (B) to whom wages and self-employment income were credited in each of such hypothetical individual’s elapsed years (within the meaning of section 215(b)(2)(B)(iii)) in an amount equal to the national average wage index (as described in section 209(k)(1)) for each such year. . (2) Widowers Section 202(f) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402(f) (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting and (ii) in subparagraph (C)(iii), by striking and (iii) by striking subparagraph (D); (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and (v) in the flush matter following subparagraph (E)(ii), as so redesignated, by striking or becomes entitled to an old-age insurance benefit such deceased individual, (B) by striking subparagraph (A) in paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) (A) Except as provided in subsection (k)(5), subsection (q), and subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, such widower’s insurance benefit for each month shall be equal to the greater of— (i) the primary insurance amount (as determined for purposes of this subsection after application of subparagraphs (B) and (C)) of such deceased individual, or (ii) subject to paragraph (9), in the case of a fully insured widower or surviving divorced husband, 75 percent of the sum of any old-age or disability insurance benefit for which the widower or the surviving divorced husband is entitled for such month and the primary insurance amount (as determined for purposes of this subsection after application of subparagraphs (B) and (C)) of such deceased individual. ; (C) in paragraph (5)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (1)(F) paragraph (1)(E) (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraph (1)(F)(i) paragraph (1)(E)(i) (D) by adding at the end the following: (9) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the amount determined under such paragraph shall not exceed the primary insurance amount for such month of a hypothetical individual— (A) who became entitled to old-age insurance benefits upon attaining early retirement age during the month in which the deceased individual referred to in paragraph (1) became entitled to old-age or disability insurance benefits, or died (before becoming entitled to such benefits), and (B) to whom wages and self-employment income were credited in each of such hypothetical individual’s elapsed years (within the meaning of section 215(b)(2)(B)(iii)) in an amount equal to the national average wage index (as described in section 209(k)(1)) for each such year. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to widow’s and widower’s insurance benefits payable for months after December 2023. 3. Benefits for disabled surviving spouses (a) In general (1) Eligibility for widow’s insurance benefits Section 202(e)(1)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402(e)(1)(B)(ii) has attained age 50 but has not attained age 60 and (2) Eligibility for widower’s insurance benefits Section 202(f)(1)(B)(ii) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402(f)(1)(B)(ii) has attained age 50 but has not attained age 60 and (3) Conforming amendment Section 202(q)(3)(A) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402(q)(3)(A) If the first month widow’s or widower’s insurance benefit) If the first month for which an individual both is entitled to a wife’s or husband’s insurance benefit and has attained age 62 or for which an individual is entitled to a widow’s or widower’s insurance benefit (b) Preclusion of entitlement after early remarriage (1) Widow’s insurance benefits Section 202(e)(1)(B)(ii) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402(e)(1)(B)(ii) and has not remarried prior to attaining the age which is 12 years less than early retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)(2)) (2) Widower’s insurance benefits Section 202(f)(1)(B)(ii) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402(f)(1)(B)(ii) and has not remarried prior to attaining the age which is 12 years less than early retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)(2)) (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to benefits payable for months after December 2022 and for which applications are filed after December 2022.

Summary: Strengthening Social Security For Widows Act This bill increases Social Security benefits for widows or widowers in two-income households by establishing an alternative method to calculate survivors benefits based on combined household benefit amounts. It also allows disabled widows and widowers to receive benefits before age 50.