I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9234 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to increase survivors benefits 
for disabled widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 30, 2024 
Ms. WILD (for herself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. LEE of Cali-
fornia, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. TITUS, Mr. COSTA, and Ms. NORTON) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways 
and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Account-
ability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to increase 
survivors benefits for disabled widows, widowers, and 
surviving divorced spouses, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Surviving Widow(er) 
Income Fair Treatment Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘SWIFT 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR UNREDUCED SURVIVORS BENE-
FITS FOR WIDOWS, WIDOWERS, AND SUR-
VIVING DIVORCED SPOUSES WITH DISABIL-
ITIES AT ANY AGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 202 of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)(ii)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘has attained age 
50 but has not attained age 60 and’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘which began be-
fore the end of the period specified in 
paragraph (4)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘(I) in the period specified in para-
graph (4) and (II)’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), if a widow 
or surviving divorced wife marries after the first 
month in which she satisfies subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) of such paragraph, such marriage shall be 
deemed not to have occurred.’’; 
(C) by striking paragraph (4); and 
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(D) in paragraph (5)(A), by amending 
clause (ii) to read as follows: 
‘‘(ii) which begins not earlier than the first 
day of the seventeenth month before the month 
in which her application is filed.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)(ii)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘has attained age 
50 but has not attained age 60 and’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘which began be-
fore the end of the period specified in 
paragraph (4)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘(I) in the period specified in para-
graph (4) and (II)’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), if a wid-
ower or surviving divorced husband marries after the 
first month in which he satisfies subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) of such paragraph, such marriage shall be 
deemed not to have occurred.’’; 
(C) by striking paragraph (4); and 
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(D) in paragraph (5)(A), by amending 
clause (ii) to read as follows: 
‘‘(ii) which begins not earlier than the first 
day of the seventeenth month before the month 
in which his application is filed.’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION
OF
REDUCTION
OF
BENEFIT 
AMOUNTS FOR BENEFITS CLAIMED BY WIDOWS, WID-
OWERS, AND SURVIVING DIVORCED SPOUSES WITH DIS-
ABILITIES BEFORE RETIREMENT AGE.—Section 202(q) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(q)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘and has 
attained age 62’’ and all that follows through ‘‘wid-
ower’s insurance benefit)’’ and inserting ‘‘and, in the 
case of a wife’s or husband’s insurance benefit, has 
attained age 62’’; 
(2) in paragraph (5), by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) No widow’s or widower’s insurance benefit shall 
be reduced under this subsection for any month during 
which the individual entitled to such benefit is entitled to 
the benefit on the basis of paragraph (1)(B)(ii) of sub-
section (e) (in the case of a widow’s insurance benefit) 
or paragraph (1)(B)(ii) of subsection (f) (in the case of 
a widower’s insurance benefit).’’; and 
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SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF BENEFIT LIMIT FOR WIDOWS, 
WIDOWERS, 
AND 
SURVIVING 
DIVORCED 
SPOUSES; INCREASE IN BENEFIT AMOUNT 
FOR DELAY IN CLAIMING BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 202 of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 402), as amended by section 2, is further 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘subsection (aa), subsection (bb),’’ after ‘‘sub-
section (q),’’; and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (D) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(D) Subject to subsections (aa) and (bb), if the de-
ceased individual (on the basis of whose wages and self- 
employment income a widow or surviving divorced wife is 
entitled to widow’s insurance benefits under this sub-
section) was, at any time, entitled to an old-age insurance 
benefit which was reduced by reason of the application of 
subsection (q), the widow’s insurance benefit of such 
widow or surviving divorced wife for any month shall not 
exceed the greater of— 
‘‘(i) amount of the old-age insurance benefit to 
which such deceased individual would have been en-
titled (after application of subsection (q)) for such 
month if such individual were still living and section 
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215(f)(5), 215(f)(6), or 215(f)(9)(B) were applied, 
where applicable; and 
‘‘(ii) 821⁄2 percent of the primary insurance 
amount (as determined without regard to subpara-
graph (C)) of such deceased individual.’’; 
(2) in subsection (f)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘subsection (aa), subsection (bb),’’ after ‘‘sub-
section (q),’’; and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (D) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(D) Subject to subsections (aa) and (bb), if the de-
ceased individual (on the basis of whose wages and self- 
employment income a widower or surviving divorced hus-
band is entitled to widower’s insurance benefits under this 
subsection) was, at any time, entitled to an old-age insur-
ance benefit which was reduced by reason of the applica-
tion of subsection (q), the widower’s insurance benefit of 
such widower or surviving divorced husband for any month 
shall not exceed the greater of— 
‘‘(i) amount of the old-age insurance benefit to 
which such deceased individual would have been en-
titled (after application of subsection (q)) for such 
month if such individual were still living and section 
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215(f)(5), 215(f)(6), or 215(f)(9)(B) were applied, 
where applicable; and 
‘‘(ii) 821⁄2 percent of the primary insurance 
amount (as determined without regard to subpara-
graph (C)) of such deceased individual.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘Increase Over Retirement Insurance Benefit Limit of 
Widow’s and Widower’s Insurance Benefit Amounts 
on Account of Delayed Receipt of Benefit 
‘‘(aa)(1) Subject to paragraph (6), the amount of a 
widow’s or widower’s insurance benefit (other than a ben-
efit based on a primary insurance amount determined 
under section 215(a)(3) as in effect in December 1978 or 
section 215(a)(1)(C)(i) as in effect thereafter) which is 
payable without regard to this subsection to an individual 
who is described in paragraph (7) for a month shall be 
increased by— 
‘‘(A) the applicable percentage (as determined 
for the individual under paragraph (5)) of such 
amount, multiplied by 
‘‘(B) the number (if any) of the increment 
months for such individual. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the number of 
increment months for any individual shall be a number 
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equal to the total number of months beginning on or after 
January 1, 2025, during which— 
‘‘(A) the individual— 
‘‘(i) would have been entitled to a widow’s 
or widower’s insurance benefit except that the 
individual had not filed an application for such 
benefit; or 
‘‘(ii) was entitled to a widow’s or widower’s 
insurance benefit that the individual did not re-
ceive pursuant to a request under section 
202(z) that such benefit not be paid; 
‘‘(B) the individual had attained early retire-
ment age (as defined in section 216(l)(2)); and 
‘‘(C) the individual was not under a penalty im-
posed under section 1129A. 
‘‘(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), a determination 
of the total number of increment months for an individual 
shall be made each time the individual becomes entitled 
or re-entitled to a widow’s or widower’s insurance benefit 
or begins receiving such a benefit after a period during 
which the individual did not receive the benefit pursuant 
to a request under section 202(z) that such benefit not 
be paid. 
‘‘(4) This subsection shall be applied to a widow’s or 
widower’s insurance benefit before any reduction under 
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this title except for the reduction under subparagraph (D) 
of subsection (e)(2) or (f)(2) of section 202 (as applica-
ble). 
‘‘(5) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the applica-
ble percentage for an individual is a percentage equal to— 
‘‘(A) 28.5; divided by 
‘‘(B) the number of months between the month 
in which the individual attains early retirement age 
(as defined in section 216(l)(2)) and the month in 
which the individual attains retirement age (as de-
fined in section 216(l)(1)). 
‘‘(6) In no case shall the amount of a widow or wid-
ower’s insurance benefit be increased under this sub-
section to an amount that exceeds the higher of— 
‘‘(A) the primary insurance amount of the de-
ceased individual on whose wages and self-employ-
ment income the widow’s or widower’s insurance 
benefit is based; or 
‘‘(B) the amount of the old-age insurance ben-
efit to which such deceased individual would have 
been entitled (after application of subsection (q) 
and, where applicable, subsection (w)) for such 
month if such individual were still living and section 
215(f)(5), 215(f)(6), or 215(f)(9)(B) were applied, 
where applicable. 
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‘‘(7) An individual described in this section is an indi-
vidual who is entitled to a widow’s or widower’s insurance 
benefit that is subject to reduction under subparagraph 
(D) of subsection (e)(2) or (f)(2) of section 202 (as appli-
cable). 
‘‘Increase in Widow’s and Widower’s Insurance Benefit 
Amounts on Account of Delayed Receipt of Benefit 
‘‘(bb)(1) Subject to paragraph (6), the amount of a 
widow’s or widower’s insurance benefit (other than a ben-
efit based on a primary insurance amount determined 
under section 215(a)(3) as in effect in December 1978 or 
section 215(a)(1)(C)(i) as in effect thereafter) which is 
payable without regard to this subsection to an individual 
for a month shall be increased by— 
‘‘(A) the applicable percentage (as determined 
for the individual under paragraph (5)) of such 
amount, multiplied by 
‘‘(B) the number (if any) of the increment 
months for such individual. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the number of 
increment months for any individual shall be a number 
equal to the total number of months beginning on or after 
January 1, 2025, during which— 
‘‘(A) the individual— 
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‘‘(i) would have been entitled to a widow’s 
or widower’s insurance benefit except that the 
individual had not filed an application for such 
benefit; or 
‘‘(ii) was entitled to a widow’s or widower’s 
insurance benefit that the individual did not re-
ceive pursuant to a request under section 
202(z) that such benefit not be paid; 
‘‘(B) the individual had attained retirement age 
(as defined in section 216(l)(1)); 
‘‘(C) the individual was not under a penalty im-
posed under section 1129A; and 
‘‘(D) the individual— 
‘‘(i) is not an individual described in sub-
section (aa)(7); or 
‘‘(ii) is an individual— 
‘‘(I) who is described in subsection 
(aa)(7); and 
‘‘(II) who, if the individual were enti-
tled to and did receive a widower’s or wid-
ower’s insurance benefit for the month, 
would receive a benefit that would be in-
creased under subsection (aa) to the max-
imum amount permissible under paragraph 
(6) of such subsection. 
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persons who attain early retirement age in the pre-
ceding calendar year (as increased pursuant to this 
clause), plus 1⁄24 of 1 percent if the calendar year 
in which the individual involved attains early retire-
ment age is not evenly divisible by 2; and 
‘‘(D) 2⁄3 of 1 percent in the case of an indi-
vidual who attains early retirement age in a calendar 
year after 2004. 
‘‘(6) In no case shall the amount of a widow or wid-
ower’s insurance benefit be increased under this sub-
section to an amount that exceeds the maximum amount 
to which the old age insurance benefit (as determined 
without regard to subsection (w)) of the individual on 
whose wages and self-employment income the widow’s or 
widower’s insurance benefit is based could have been in-
creased under subsection (w).’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
202(z)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
402(z)(1)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by insert-
ing ‘‘and any individual who is entitled to widow’s 
or widower’s insurance benefits at any age’’ before 
‘‘may request that’’; and 
(2) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘, or, in the case 
of an individual entitled to a widow’s or widower’s 
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insurance benefit, the first month in which, if the in-
dividual filed an application for such benefit or re-
quested that such benefit be resumed in such month, 
the amount of such benefit would be equal to the 
maximum amount permissible under subsection 
(aa)(7)’’ before the period. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on January 1, 2025, and shall 
apply to the determination of the amount of widow’s and 
widower’s insurance benefits payable on or after such 
date. 
SEC. 5. HOLDING CURRENT BENEFICIARIES HARMLESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an individual who 
is receiving benefits or assistance under any Federal pro-
gram or under any State or local program financed in 
whole or in part with Federal funds as of the date on 
which the amendments made by this Act take effect, the 
amount of any additional income that is attributable to 
an increase in benefits under title II of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) or to new eligibility for bene-
fits under such title that results from the amendments 
made by this Act shall be disregarded for the purpose of 
determining such individual’s continued eligibility for, and 
amount of, benefits or assistance under such Federal, 
State, or local program. 
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(b) LIMITATION.—In the case of an individual de-
scribed in subsection (a) who, after the date on which the 
amendments made by this Act take effect, ceases to be 
eligible for benefits or assistance under a Federal, State, 
or local program described in such subsection, such sub-
section shall not apply to such individual for purposes of 
such program beginning on the date that such individual 
ceases to be so eligible. 
SEC. 6. PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO WIDOWS, WID-
OWERS, AND SURVIVING DIVORCED SPOUSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2025, 
the Commissioner of Social Security shall publish a book-
let containing information related to benefits available 
under title II of the Social Security Act to widows, wid-
owers, and surviving divorced spouses, including informa-
tion on— 
(1) how old-age insurance benefits and sur-
vivors insurance benefits interact with each other; 
(2) how to claim benefits, and how the timing 
of claiming benefits can impact benefit amounts; 
(3) the lump sum death benefit; and 
(4) how to contact the Social Security Adminis-
tration for additional information. 
(b) PROVISION
OF BOOKLET
TO WIDOWS, WID-
OWERS, AND SURVIVING DIVORCED SPOUSES.—In the 
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case of any individual who dies on or after January 1, 
2025, the Commissioner of Social Security shall, not later 
than 30 days after the Social Security Administration is 
informed of the death of such individual, mail a copy of 
the booklet described in subsection (a) to each widow, wid-
ower, or surviving divorced spouse of the individual who 
is known to the Social Security Administration (based on 
the records of the Social Security Administration). 
Æ 
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