Bill Summary
The "Repairing Social Security After Trump and DOGE Act" is a proposed legislation aimed at providing individuals who experienced undue hardships access to Social Security benefits they may have otherwise qualified for but failed to apply for. The bill defines "undue hardship" as difficulties encountered between January 20, 2025, and January 19, 2029, that prevented individuals from applying for benefits under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. These hardships may include operational changes within the Social Security Administration, staffing shortages, technical issues, and misinformation.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Entitlement Recognition**: Individuals who faced undue hardships will be deemed to have applied for benefits on the date of the hardship or when they met all eligibility requirements, ensuring they receive benefits retroactively.
2. **Commissioner’s Actions**: Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Commissioner of Social Security is required to identify affected individuals and establish a program for them to notify the agency of their hardships.
3. **Waiver of Waiting Period**: For those eligible for disability insurance benefits but hindered from applying due to hardship, the bill allows for adjustments in how their waiting period is calculated.
4. **Exclusion from Eligibility Assessments**: Any benefits received due to this act will not affect individuals' eligibility or need for other federal, state, or local assistance programs.
5. **Reporting Requirement**: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report on the changes implemented by the Social Security Administration during the specified period, their effects, and recommendations for addressing any negative impacts.
Overall, the legislation seeks to rectify barriers that have prevented individuals from accessing essential Social Security benefits during a challenging period.
Possible Impacts
The "Repairing Social Security After Trump and DOGE Act" could affect people in several significant ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Access to Benefits for Underserved Individuals**: The legislation allows individuals who experienced "undue hardship" preventing them from applying for Social Security benefits to be retroactively deemed to have applied for those benefits. This means that individuals who may have faced obstacles such as long wait times, technical issues, or misinformation could receive benefits that they were otherwise unable to access. This could provide crucial financial support to those who need it, particularly during challenging times.
2. **Addressing Administrative Challenges**: The Act mandates that the Commissioner of Social Security take proactive steps to identify individuals who were unable to apply for benefits due to systemic issues within the Social Security Administration (SSA). By putting a framework in place to address staffing shortages, technical difficulties, and other operational problems, the legislation aims to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the SSA. This could lead to a more responsive system for current and future beneficiaries, ultimately improving their experience and access to necessary services.
3. **Financial Protections for Recipients**: The legislation specifies that any benefits paid out as a result of this Act will not affect an individual's eligibility for other federal, state, or local assistance programs. This provision helps protect vulnerable populations from losing out on additional support they might need. For instance, individuals receiving housing assistance or food stamps will not see their benefits reduced due to the receipt of retroactive Social Security payments, thus providing a more stable financial situation for those who qualify for multiple forms of aid.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6237 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6237
To require the Commissioner of Social Security to take actions to
provide certain individuals who suffered an undue hardship access to
benefits under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to which
such individuals should have been entitled.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 20, 2025
Mrs. Torres of California introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Commissioner of Social Security to take actions to
provide certain individuals who suffered an undue hardship access to
benefits under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to which
such individuals should have been entitled.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Repairing Social Security After
Trump and DOGE Act''.
SEC. 2. ACCESS TO BENEFITS IN CASE OF UNDUE HARDSHIP.
(a) Entitlement.--In any case in which it is determined to the
satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security that an individual
failed as of any date to apply for monthly insurance benefits under
title II or XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381
et seq.) due to an undue hardship, such individual shall be deemed to
have applied for such benefits on the later of--
(1) the date on which such individual suffered the undue
hardship; or
(2) the date on which such individual met all requirements
for entitlement to such benefits (other than application
therefor).
(b) Review; Applications.--Beginning not later than 180 days after
January 20, 2029, the Commissioner shall--
(1) take such actions as the Commissioner deems appropriate
to identify individuals who failed as of any date to apply for
a monthly insurance benefit as described in subsection (a); and
(2) establish a program through which individuals may
notify the Commissioner that they failed as of any date to
apply for such a benefit due to an undue hardship.
(c) Undue Hardship Defined.--In this section, the term ``undue
hardship'' means, if occurring during the period beginning on January
20, 2025, and ending on January 19, 2029, an issue with obtaining a
benefit under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401
et seq., 1381 et seq.) due to--
(1) changes in the operations of the Social Security
Administration, including those resulting from actions taken by
the United States DOGE Service (commonly referred to as the
Department of Government Efficiency or ``DOGE''), Special
Government Employee Elon Musk, Trump Administration officials,
or Social Security Administration employees or contractors;
(2) staffing issues, including shortages or changes that
result in long telephone wait times, unanswered or disconnected
calls, or an inability to schedule appointments;
(3) technical issues, such as issues with logging into
Social Security websites (including through third-party systems
such as Login.gov and ID.me) or website outages;
(4) operational issues, including changes that require
internet access or transportation to appointments;
(5) being falsely declared dead, including being placed on
the Social Security Death Master File and other records
described in section 205(r) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 405(r));
(6) confusion about Social Security rules due to
misinformation, conflicting information, or lack of
information; and
(7) other issues interfering with the ability of an
individual to apply for or receive benefits, as determined
appropriate by the Commissioner.
(d) Waiver of Disability Insurance Waiting Period.--In determining
the month in which an individual became entitled to a benefit under
section 223 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423), in the case of
an individual who failed to apply due to an undue hardship as described
in subsection (a), the matter following paragraph (E) of such section
shall be applied by substituting ``for each month beginning with the
first month during all of which the individual is under a disability
and in which the individual becomes so entitled to such insurance
benefits and ending'' for ``(i) for each month beginning with the first
month after his waiting period (as defined in subsection (c)(2)) in
which he becomes so entitled to such insurance benefits, (ii) in the
case of an individual who has been medically determined to have
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for each month beginning with the first
month during all of which the individual is under a disability and in
which the individual becomes entitled to such insurance benefits, or
(iii) for each month beginning with the first month during all of which
he is under a disability and in which he becomes so entitled to such
insurance benefits, but only if he was entitled to disability insurance
benefits which terminated, or had a period of disability (as defined in
section 216(i)) which ceased, within the 60-month period preceding the
first month in which he is under such disability, and ending''. The
preceding sentence shall only apply in relation to a period of
disability (as defined in section 216(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
416(i))) of the individual that begins during the period beginning on
January 20, 2025, and ending on January 20, 2029.
(e) Treatment of Amounts Paid.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, any amount paid under titles II or XVI of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381 et seq.) due to the application of
this Act shall not be taken into account in determining the need or
eligibility of any person for benefits or assistance, or the amount of
such benefits or assistance, under any Federal, State, or local program
financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
SEC. 3. GAO REPORT ON DOGE AND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS.
Not later than 180 days of the enactment of this Act or July 30,
2029, whichever is later, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate report
detailing--
(1) the actions and changes implemented by the Social
Security Administration between January 20, 2025, and January
20, 2029;
(2) the effect, including on beneficiaries and on customer
service, of such actions and changes; and
(3) recommendations to repair the damage done as a result
of such actions and changes.
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