I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5701 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to modify the 10-year marriage 
rule relating to spouses and surviving spouses insurance benefits in 
cases of domestic violence, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 6, 2025 
Mrs. SYKES 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 modify 
the 10-year marriage rule relating to spouses and sur-
viving spouses insurance benefits in cases of domestic 
violence, 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 ‘‘Fair Social Security 
for Domestic Violence Survivors Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF 10-YEAR MARRIAGE RULE IN 
CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 216(d) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 416(d)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(9)(A) In the case of a divorced woman described 
in paragraph (1) or (2) or a divorced man described in 
paragraph (4) or (5) who provides to the Commissioner 
of Social Security a finding made by a court of law that 
the divorced woman or divorced man was the victim of 
domestic violence committed by the spouse during the 
course of the marriage, such paragraph as may be applica-
ble with respect to such divorced woman or divorced man 
shall be applied for purposes of this title by substituting 
‘5 years’ for ‘10 years’. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term 
‘domestic violence’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 
1994.’’. 
(b) TERMINATION
OF WIFE’S INSURANCE BENE-
FITS.—Section 202(b) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(b)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) In the case of any divorced wife who provides 
to the Commissioner of Social Security a finding made by 
a court of law that the divorced wife was the victim of 
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domestic violence (as defined in section 216(d)(9)(B)) 
committed by the spouse during the course of the mar-
riage, clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(G) shall be applied by 
substituting ‘5 years’ for ‘10 years’.’’. 
(c) TERMINATION OF HUSBAND’S INSURANCE BENE-
FITS.—Section 202(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) In the case of any divorced husband who pro-
vides to the Commissioner of Social Security a finding 
made by a court of law that the divorced husband was 
the victim of domestic violence (as defined in section 
216(d)(9)(B)) committed by the spouse, clause (ii) of 
paragraph (1)(G) shall be applied by substituting ‘5 years’ 
for ‘10 years’.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to monthly insurance 
benefits for months beginning at least 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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