I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1159 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide for full benefits 
for disabled widows and widowers without regard to age. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2007 
Mrs. LOWEY 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 provide 
for full benefits for disabled widows and widowers with-
out regard to age. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FULL BENEFITS FOR DISABLED WIDOWS AND 
WIDOWERS WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY FOR WIDOW’S INSURANCE BENE-
FITS.—Section 202(e) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by striking ‘‘has at-
tained age 50 but has not attained age 60 and’’; 
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(2) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘after at-
taining age 50 if she was entitled before such mar-
riage occurred’’ and inserting ‘‘after having been en-
titled’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘‘after at-
taining age 50’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY FOR WIDOWER’S INSURANCE BENE-
FITS.—Section 202(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(f)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by striking ‘‘has at-
tained age 50 but has not attained age 60 and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘after at-
taining age 50 if he was entitled before such mar-
riage occurred’’ and inserting ‘‘after having been en-
titled’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘‘after at-
taining age 50’’. 
SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM REDUCTIONS IN BENEFITS. 
Section 202(q) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
402(q)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘age 50’’ 
and inserting ‘‘age 60’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
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‘‘(12) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, there shall be no reduction under this subsection 
in the widow’s or widower’s insurance benefit of an indi-
vidual for any month in which such individual is under 
a disability (as defined in section 223(d)); and none of 
the provisions of this subsection shall apply with respect 
to such benefit even though such benefit may have been 
so reduced prior to the onset of such disability.’’. 
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND REDETERMINATION OF BEN-
EFITS. 
The amendments made by this Act shall apply with 
respect to monthly insurance benefits payable under title 
II of the Social Security Act for months after the month 
in which this Act is enacted. The Commissioner of Social 
Security (without the necessity of any application there-
for) shall redetermine the amount of any widow’s or wid-
ower’s insurance benefit which is payable for the month 
in which this Act is enacted in order to reflect such 
amendments as provided in the preceding sentence. 
Æ 
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