Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide that, if an OASDI recipient dies during the first 15 days of a month, the last payment of the monthly benefit for that month shall be half the usual benefit amount.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 954 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 954
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly
insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the
recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient
dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2009
Mr. Holden (for himself and Mr. Platts) 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 that a monthly
insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the
recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient
dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes.
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 ``Social Security Benefits Fairness
Act of 2009''.
SEC. 2. COMPUTATION AND PAYMENT OF LAST MONTHLY PAYMENT.
(a) Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Benefits.--Section 202 of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``Last Payment of Monthly Insurance Benefit Terminated by Death
``(z)(1) In any case in which an individual dies during the first
15 days of a calendar month, the amount of such individual's monthly
insurance benefit under this section paid for such month shall be an
amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of such benefit (as determined
without regard to this subsection), rounded, if not a multiple of $1,
to the next lower multiple of $1. This subsection shall apply with
respect to such benefit after all other adjustments with respect to
such benefit provided by this title have been made.
``(2) Any payment of an individual's benefit under this section for
the month in which such individual dies shall be made in accordance
with section 204(d).''.
(b) Disability Insurance Benefits.--Section 223 of such Act (42
U.S.C. 423) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``Last Payment of Benefit Terminated by Death
``(k)(1) In any case in which an individual dies during the first
15 days of a calendar month, the amount of such individual's monthly
insurance benefit under this section paid for such month shall be an
amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of such benefit (as determined
without regard to this subsection), rounded, if not a multiple of $1,
to the next lower multiple of $1. This subsection shall apply with
respect to such benefit after all other adjustments with respect to
such benefit provided by this title have been made.
``(2) Any payment of an individual's benefit under this section for
the month in which such individual dies shall be made in accordance
with section 204(d).''.
(c) Benefits at Age 72 for Certain Uninsured Individuals.--Section
228 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 428) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``Last Payment of Benefit Terminated by Death
``(i)(1) In any case in which an individual dies during the first
15 days of a calendar month, the amount of such individual's monthly
insurance benefit under this section paid for such month shall be an
amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of such benefit (as determined
without regard to this subsection), rounded, if not a multiple of $1,
to the next lower multiple of $1. This subsection shall apply with
respect to such benefit after all other adjustments with respect to
such benefit provided by this title have been made.
``(2) Any payment of an individual's benefit under this section for
the month in which such individual dies shall be made in accordance
with section 204(d).''.
SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS REGARDING PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR MONTH
OF RECIPIENT'S DEATH.
(a) Old-Age Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(a) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(a)) is amended by striking ``the month
preceding'' in the matter following subparagraph (B).
(b) Wife's Insurance Benefits.--
(1) In general.--Section 202(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(b)(1)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in
the matter immediately following clause (ii) and
inserting ``and ending with the month in which she dies
or (if earlier) with the month'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (E); and
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K)
as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 202(b)(5)(B) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 402(b)(5)(B)) is amended by striking ``(E), (F),
(H), or (J)'' and inserting ``(E), (G), or (I)''.
(c) Husband's Insurance Benefits.--
(1) In general.--Section 202(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(c)(1)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in
the matter immediately following clause (ii) and
inserting ``and ending with the month in which he dies
or (if earlier) with the month'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (E); and
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K)
as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 202(c)(5)(B) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 402(c)(5)(B)) is amended by striking ``(E), (F),
(H), or (J)'' and inserting ``(E), (G), or (I)''.
(d) Child's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(d)(1) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 402(d)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in the matter
immediately preceding subparagraph (D) and inserting ``and
ending with the month in which such child dies or (if earlier)
with the month''; and
(2) by striking ``dies, or'' in subparagraph (D).
(e) Widow's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(e)(1) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 402(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month
preceding the first month in which any of the following occurs: she
remarries, dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (F) and
inserting ``ending with the month in which she dies or (if earlier)
with the month preceding the first month in which any of the following
occurs: she remarries, or''.
(f) Widower's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(f)(1) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 402(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month
preceding the first month in which any of the following occurs: he
remarries, dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (F) and
inserting ``ending with the month in which he dies or (if earlier) with
the month preceding the first month in which any of the following
occurs: he remarries,''.
(g) Mother's and Father's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(g)(1) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(g)(1)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``with the month in which he or she dies
or (if earlier)'' after ``and ending'' in the matter following
subparagraph (F); and
(2) by striking ``he or she remarries, or he or she dies''
and inserting ``or he or she remarries''.
(h) Parent's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(h)(1) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 402(h)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month
preceding the first month in which any of the following occurs: such
parent dies, marries,'' in the matter following subparagraph (E) and
inserting ``ending with the month in which such parent dies or (if
earlier) with the month preceding the first month in which any of the
following occurs: such parent marries,''.
(i) Disability Insurance Benefits.--Section 223(a)(1) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 423(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month
preceding whichever of the following months is the earliest: the month
in which he dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (E) and
inserting the following: ``ending with the month in which he dies or
(if earlier) with whichever of the following months is the earliest:''.
(j) Benefits at Age 72 for Certain Uninsured Individuals.--Section
228(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 428(a)) is amended by striking ``the
month preceding'' in the matter following paragraph (4).
(k) Exemption From Maximum Benefit Cap.--Section 203 of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 403) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``Exemption From Maximum Benefit Cap
``(m) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the
application of this section shall be made without regard to any benefit
of an individual under section 202, 223, or 228 for the month in which
such individual dies.''.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to deaths
occurring after 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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