Social Security COVID Correction and Equity Act
This bill expands the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits program, temporarily expands the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and otherwise modifies these programs.
Specifically, the bill revises OASDI benefits by (1) modifying funding formulas, (2) extending eligibility for certain benefits, and (3) increasing income thresholds used to determine the percentage of benefits subject to federal income tax.
Changes to OASDI funding formulas include (1) increasing the primary insurance amount, (2) establishing new methods to calculate benefits for individuals with lifetime low earnings and for widows and widowers, and (3) modifiying application of the national average wage index to prevent certain reductions to benefits.
In addition, children of a deceased, disabled, or retired worker remain eligible for OASDI benefits through age 22 if they are full-time students. Under current law, they receive benefits through age 18.
The bill also extends dependent child benefits under the OASDI program to specified family members other than grandparents or step-grandparents, including in cases where a court grants custody of the dependent child to an eligible family member. To receive benefits under current law, either both parents must be disabled or deceased or a grandparent or step-grandparent must legally adopt the dependent child.
The bill also temporarily increases income and resource limits for the SSI program, thereby temporarily expanding eligibility. This program helps aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources meet their basic needs.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7499 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7499
To prevent an unintended drop in Social Security benefits due to COVID-
19 and the application of the National Average Wage Index, and improve
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits on an
emergency basis.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2020
Mr. Larson of Connecticut (for himself, Mr. Neal, Mr. Lewis, Mr.
Thompson of California, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Danny K.
Davis of Illinois, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Higgins of New York, Ms. Sewell of
Alabama, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Judy Chu of California, Ms. Moore, Mr.
Kildee, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Evans, Mr.
Suozzi, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Bishop
of Georgia, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Shalala, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Kilmer, Mr.
Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Cisneros, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr.
Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. DeLauro, Ms.
Norton, Mr. Payne, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Smith of Washington, and Mr.
Ryan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prevent an unintended drop in Social Security benefits due to COVID-
19 and the application of the National Average Wage Index, and improve
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits on an
emergency basis.
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 COVID Correction and
Equity Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Preventing an unintended drop in benefits relating to the
application of the National Average Wage
Index.
Sec. 4. Across-the-board benefit increase.
Sec. 5. Increase in minimum benefit for lifetime low earners based on
years in the workforce.
Sec. 6. Increase in threshold amounts and rate for inclusion of Social
Security benefits in income.
Sec. 7. Extension of child's benefit for full-time post-secondary
school students under age 23.
Sec. 8. Improving social security benefits for widows and widowers in
two-income households.
Sec. 9. Increasing access to benefits for children who live with
grandparents or other relatives.
Sec. 10. Update in eligibility for the supplemental security income
program.
Sec. 11. Support and maintenance furnished in kind not included as
income.
Sec. 12. Holding SSI, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries harmless.
Sec. 13. Expedited adjustment of underpayments.
Sec. 14. Appropriation of funds.
SEC. 3. PREVENTING AN UNINTENDED DROP IN BENEFITS RELATING TO THE
APPLICATION OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE INDEX.
(a) Modifications Related to Computation of Primary Insurance
Amount.--Section 215 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii)(I)--
(A) in subclause (I)--
(i) by striking ``the national'' and
inserting ``(aa) the national''; and
(ii) by striking ``, by'' at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(B) by adding at the end of subclause (I) the
following:
``(bb) if higher (and if such second
calendar year is after 2019), the highest
national average wage index (as so defined) for
any calendar year before such second calendar
year, by''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii)--
(A) in subclause (I)--
(i) by striking ``the national'' and
inserting ``(aa) the national''; and
(ii) by striking ``, by'' at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(B) by adding at the end of subclause (I) the
following:
``(bb) if higher (and if such second
calendar year is after 2019), the highest
national average wage index (as so defined) for
any calendar year before such second calendar
year, by''.
(b) Modification Related to Reduction of Benefits Based on
Disability.--Section 224(f)(2)(B)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
424(f)(2)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting ``(or if higher (and if such
calendar year is after 2019), the highest national average wage index
(as so defined) for any calendar year before such calendar year)''
after ``made''.
SEC. 4. ACROSS-THE-BOARD BENEFIT INCREASE.
(a) In General.--Section 215(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(A)(i)) is amended by striking ``90 percent'' and
inserting ``93 percent''.
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to monthly insurance benefits payable for
months in calendar year 2020.
(2) Recomputation of primary insurance amounts.--
Notwithstanding section 215(f) of the Social Security Act, the
Commissioner of Social Security shall recompute primary
insurance amounts to the extent necessary--
(A) to carry out the amendments made by this
section; and
(B) to account for the nonapplication of such
amendments after calendar year 2020.
(c) Rule of Construction.--For purposes of applying subparagraphs
(A) and (B) of section 215(i)(1) of the Social Security Act in any
calendar year, nothing in this Act shall be considered a general
benefit increase under title II of such Act.
SEC. 5. INCREASE IN MINIMUM BENEFIT FOR LIFETIME LOW EARNERS BASED ON
YEARS IN THE WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--Section 215(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 415(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new
subparagraph:
``(D)(i) Effective with respect to monthly insurance benefits
payable for months in calendar year 2020, no primary insurance amount
computed under subparagraph (A) may be less than the greater of--
``(I) the minimum monthly amount computed under
subparagraph (C); or
``(II) in the case of an individual who has more than 10
years of work (as defined in clause (iv)(I)), the alternative
minimum amount determined under clause (ii).
``(ii)(I) The alternative minimum amount determined under this
clause is the applicable percentage of \1/12\ of the poverty guideline
for 2019.
``(II) For purposes of subclause (I), the applicable percentage is
the percentage specified in connection with the number of years of
work, as set forth in the following table:
``If the number of years The applicable
of work is: percentage is:
11........................................... 6.25 percent
12........................................... 12.50 percent
13........................................... 18.75 percent
14........................................... 25.00 percent
15........................................... 31.25 percent
16........................................... 37.50 percent
17........................................... 43.75 percent
18........................................... 50.00 percent
19........................................... 56.25 percent
20........................................... 62.50 percent
21........................................... 68.75 percent
22........................................... 75.00 percent
23........................................... 81.25 percent
24........................................... 87.50 percent
25........................................... 93.75 percent
26........................................... 100.00 percent
27........................................... 106.25 percent
28........................................... 112.50 percent
29........................................... 118.75 percent
30 or more................................... 125.00 percent.
``(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph--
``(I) the term `year of work' means, with respect to an
individual, a year to which 4 quarters of coverage have been
credited based on such individual's wages and self-employment
income; and
``(II) the term `poverty guideline for 2019' means the
annual poverty guideline for 2019 (as updated annually in the
Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services
under the authority of section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1981) as applicable to a single
individual.''.
(b) Recomputation of Primary Insurance Amounts.--Notwithstanding
section 215(f) of the Social Security Act, the Commissioner of Social
Security shall recompute primary insurance amounts to the extent
necessary--
(1) to carry out the amendments made by this section; and
(2) to account for the nonapplication of such amendments
after calendar year 2020.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 209(k)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
409(k)(1)) is amended by inserting ``215(a)(1)(E),'' after
``215(a)(1)(D),''.
SEC. 6. INCREASE IN THRESHOLD AMOUNTS AND RATE FOR INCLUSION OF SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS IN INCOME.
(a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 86 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--Gross income for the taxable year of any
taxpayer described in subsection (b) (notwithstanding section 207 of
the Social Security Act) includes Social Security benefits in an amount
equal to the lesser of--
``(1) 85 percent of the Social Security benefits received
during the taxable year, or
``(2) one-half of the excess described in subsection
(b)(1).''.
(b) Base Amount.--Subsection (c) of section 86 of such Code is
amended to read as follows:
``(c) Base Amount.--For purposes of this section, the term `base
amount' means--
``(1) except as otherwise provided in this paragraph,
$35,000,
``(2) $50,000 in the case of a joint return, and
``(3) zero in the case of a taxpayer who--
``(A) is married as of the close of the taxable
year (within the meaning of section 7703) but does not
file a joint return for such year, and
``(B) does not live apart from his spouse at all
times during the taxable year.''.
(c) Transfers to Trust Funds.--
(1) Hospital insurance trust fund held harmless.--Of the
total revenue from taxation of social security benefits, there
are appropriated to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund
such amounts as would be transferred to such fund under section
121(e) of the Social Security Amendments of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 401
note) and section 86 of such Code as such sections were in
effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act,
at such times and in such manner as would be provided therein.
(2) Transfers to payor funds.--Of the balance of the total
revenue from taxation of social security benefits remaining
after appropriations under paragraph (1) have been made, there
are appropriated to each payor fund amounts equivalent to the
portion of such balance equal to a fraction--
(A) the numerator of which is the amount equivalent
to the net revenues received in the Treasury
attributable to the application of sections 86 and
871(a)(3) of such Code to payments from such payor fund
made in taxable years beginning during calendar year
2019; and
(B) the denominator of which is the total revenue
from taxation of social security benefits.
(3) Transfers.--The amounts appropriated by paragraph (2)
to any payor fund shall be transferred from time to time (but
not less frequently than quarterly) from the general fund of
the Treasury on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of
the Treasury of the amounts referred to in such paragraph. Any
such quarterly payment shall be made on the first day of such
quarter and shall take into account social security benefits
estimated to be received during such quarter. Proper
adjustments shall be made in the amounts subsequently
transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or
less than the amounts required to be transferred.
(4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
(A) Total revenue from taxation of social security
benefits.--The term ``total revenue from taxation of
social security benefits'' means the amount equivalent
to the net revenues received in the Treasury
attributable to the application of sections 86 and
871(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
payments from any payor fund made in taxable years
beginning during calendar year 2019.
(B) Payor fund.--The term ``payor fund'' means any
trust fund or account from which payments of social
security benefits are made.
(C) Social security benefits.--The term ``social
security benefits'' has the meaning given such term by
section 86(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(5) Conforming rule.--Section 121(e) of the Social Security
Amendments of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 401 note) shall not apply with
respect to net revenues received in the Treasury attributable
to the application of sections 86 and 871(a)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to payments from any payor fund made in
taxable years beginning during calendar year 2019.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning in calendar year 2019.
SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF CHILD'S BENEFIT FOR FULL-TIME POST-SECONDARY
SCHOOL STUDENTS UNDER AGE 23.
(a) In General.--Section 202(d)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 402(d)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) at the time such application was filed was
unmarried and--
``(i) had not attained the age of 18,
``(ii) was a full-time elementary or
secondary school student and had not attained
the age of 22,
``(iii) was a full-time post-secondary
school student and had not attained the age of
23, or
``(iv) is under a disability (as defined in
section 223(d)) which began before he attained
the age of 22, and''.
(b) Definition of Full-Time Post-Secondary School Student.--
(1) In general.--Section 202(d)(7) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(7)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by inserting ``and a `full-time post-
secondary school student' is an individual who
is in full-time attendance as a student at a
post-secondary educational institution'' before
``, as determined by the Commissioner'';
(ii) by inserting ``or a `full-time post-
secondary school student''' before ``if he is
paid by his employer'';
(iii) by inserting ``or a post-secondary
educational institution, as applicable,''
before ``at the request'';
(iv) by inserting ``or a `full-time post-
secondary school student''' before ``for the
purpose of this section''; and
(v) by inserting ``or a full-time post-
secondary school student'' before ``shall be
deemed''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting ``or a full-time post-
secondary school student'' after ``student'';
(ii) by inserting ``or a post-secondary
educational institution, as applicable'' before
``at which he has been''; and
(iii) by striking ``an elementary or
secondary school'' in each of the second and
third places in which such term appears and
inserting ``such a school''.
(2) Transition from elementary or secondary school.--
Section 202(d)(7)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(7)(B)) is
amended by adding at the end the following sentence: ``An
individual who has been in full-time attendance at an
elementary or secondary school shall, during a succeeding
period of nonattendance at such school, be deemed to be a full-
time secondary-school student if (i) such period is 4 calendar
months or less, and (ii) the individual shows to the
satisfaction of the Commissioner that he intends to be in full-
time attendance at a post-secondary educational institution
immediately following such period.''
(c) Definition of Post-Secondary Educational Institution.--Section
202(d)(7)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(7)(C)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(iii) A `post-secondary educational
institution' is an institution described in
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1002).''.
(d) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 202(d)(1)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ``or a full-time post-
secondary school student'' after ``student''.
(2) Section 202(d)(1)(F) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(1)(F)) is amended by striking ``the earlier of--'' and
all that follows through ``the age of 19,'' and inserting the
following: ``the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,
``(ii) the month in which the child attains
the age of 22, but only if the child is not a
full-time post-secondary school student during
any part of such month, or
``(iii) the month in which the child
attains the age of 23,''.
(3) Section 202(d)(1)(G) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(1)(G)) is amended by striking ``(if later)'' and all
that follows through the ``the age of 19,'' and inserting the
following: ``(if later) the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,
``(ii) the month in which the child attains
the age of 22, but only if the child is not a
full-time post-secondary school student during
any part of such month, or
``(iii) the month in which the child
attains the age of 23,''.
(4) Section 202(d)(6)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(6)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
``(A)(i) is a full-time elementary or secondary
school student and has not attained the age of 22,
``(ii) is a full-time post-secondary school student
and has not attained the age of 23, or
``(iii) is under a disability (as defined in
section 223(d)) and has not attained the age of 22,
or''.
(5) Section 202(d)(6)(D) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(6)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
``(D) the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,
``(ii) the month in which the child attains
the age of 22, but only if the child is not a
full-time post-secondary school student during
any part of such month, or
``(iii) the month in which the child
attains the age of 23,
but only if he is not under a disability (as so
defined) in such earlier month; or''.
(6) Section 202(d)(6)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(6)(E)) is amended by striking ``(if later)'' and all
that follows to the end and inserting the following: ``(if
later) the earlier of--
``(i) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student or a full-time post-
secondary school student,
``(ii) the month in which the child attains
the age of 22, but only if the child is not a
full-time post-secondary school student during
any part of such month, or
``(iii) the month in which the child
attains the age of 23.''.
(7) Section 202(d)(7)(D) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
402(d)(7)(D)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``A child who'' and inserting ``(i)
A child who'';
(B) by striking ``age 19'' and inserting ``age
22'';
(C) by striking ``clause (i) of paragraph (1)(B)''
and inserting ``clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(B)''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) A child who attains age 23 at a time when he
is a full-time post-secondary school student (as
defined in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and
without application of subparagraph (B) of such
paragraph) but has not (at such time) completed the
requirements for, or received, a diploma or equivalent
certificate from a post-secondary educational
institution (as defined in subparagraph (C)(iii)) shall
be deemed (for purposes of determining whether his
entitlement to benefits under this subsection has
terminated under paragraph (1)(F) and for purposes of
determining his initial entitlement to such benefits
under clause (iii) of paragraph (1)(B)) not to have
attained such age until the first day of the first
month following the end of the quarter or semester in
which he is enrolled at such time (or, if the post-
secondary educational institution (as so defined) in
which he is enrolled is not operated on a quarter or
semester system, until the first day of the first month
following the completion of the course in which he is
so enrolled or until the first day of the third month
beginning after such time, whichever first occurs).''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to applications for child's insurance benefits filed
in calendar year 2020 and with respect to individuals entitled to such
benefits during any month of such calendar year, except that such
amendments shall not apply for purposes of determining continuing
eligibility for child's insurance benefits for any month after such
calendar year.
SEC. 8. IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS IN
TWO-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Widows.--Section 202(e) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 402(e)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(iii), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) by striking subparagraph (D);
(iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and
(F) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
and
(v) in the flush matter following
subparagraph (E)(ii), as so redesignated, by
striking ``becomes entitled to an old-age
insurance benefit'' and all that follows
through ``such deceased individual,'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (A) in paragraph (2)
and inserting the following:
``(2)(A) Except as provided in subsection (k)(5),
subsection (q), and subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, such
widow's insurance benefit for each month shall be equal to the
greater of--
``(i) the primary insurance amount (as
determined for purposes of this subsection
after application of subparagraphs (B) and (C))
of such deceased individual, or
``(ii) subject to paragraph (9), in the
case of a fully insured widow or surviving
divorced wife, 75 percent of the sum of any
old-age or disability insurance benefit for
which the widow or the surviving divorced wife
is entitled for such month and the primary
insurance amount (as determined for purposes of
this subsection after application of
subparagraphs (B) and (C)) of such deceased
individual.'';
(C) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``paragraph (1)(F)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(1)(E)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``paragraph (1)(F)(i)'' and inserting
``paragraph (1)(E)(i)''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the amount
determined under such paragraph shall not exceed the primary
insurance amount for such month of a hypothetical individual--
``(A) who became entitled to old-age insurance
benefits upon attaining early retirement age during the
month in which the deceased individual referred to in
paragraph (1) became entitled to old-age or disability
insurance benefits, or died (before becoming entitled
to such benefits), and
``(B) to whom wages and self-employment income were
credited in each of such hypothetical individual's
elapsed years (within the meaning of section
215(b)(2)(B)(iii)) in an amount equal to the national
average wage index (as described in section 209(k)(1))
for each such year.''.
(2) Widowers.--Section 202(f) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 402(f)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(iii), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) by striking subparagraph (D);
(iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and
(F) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
and
(v) in the flush matter following
subparagraph (E)(ii), as so redesignated, by
striking ``or becomes entitled to an old-age
insurance benefit'' and all that follows
through ``such deceased individual,'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (A) in paragraph (2)
and inserting the following:
``(2)(A) Except as provided in subsection (k)(5),
subsection (q), and subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, such
widower's insurance benefit for each month shall be equal to
the greater of--
``(i) the primary insurance amount (as
determined for purposes of this subsection
after application of subparagraphs (B) and (C))
of such deceased individual, or
``(ii) subject to paragraph (9), in the
case of a fully insured widower or surviving
divorced husband, 75 percent of the sum of any
old-age or disability insurance benefit for
which the widower or the surviving divorced
husband is entitled for such month and the
primary insurance amount (as determined for
purposes of this subsection after application
of subparagraphs (B) and (C)) of such deceased
individual.'';
(C) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``paragraph (1)(F)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(1)(E)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``paragraph (1)(F)(i)'' and inserting
``paragraph (1)(E)(i)''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the amount
determined under such paragraph shall not exceed the primary
insurance amount for such month of a hypothetical individual--
``(A) who became entitled to old-age insurance
benefits upon attaining early retirement age during the
month in which the deceased individual referred to in
paragraph (1) became entitled to old-age or disability
insurance benefits, or died (before becoming entitled
to such benefits), and
``(B) to whom wages and self-employment income were
credited in each of such hypothetical individual's
elapsed years (within the meaning of section
215(b)(2)(B)(iii)) in an amount equal to the national
average wage index (as described in section 209(k)(1))
for each such year.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 209(k)(1) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 409(k)(1)), as amended by section 103(c), is further
amended by inserting ``202(e)(9), 202(f)(9),'' after ``sections''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply only with respect to widow's and widower's insurance benefits
payable for months in calendar year 2020.
SEC. 9. INCREASING ACCESS TO BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN WHO LIVE WITH
GRANDPARENTS OR OTHER RELATIVES.
(a) In General.--Title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 202(d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by inserting ``except as
provided in paragraph (9),'' before ``was dependent'';
and
(B) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:
``(9)(A) In the case of a child who is the child of an individual
under clause (3) of the first sentence of section 216(e) and is not a
child of such individual under clause (1) or (2) of such first
sentence, the criteria specified in subparagraph (B) shall apply
instead of the criteria specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1).
``(B) The criteria of this subparagraph are that--
``(i) the child has been living with such individual in the
United States for a period of not less than 12 months;
``(ii) the child has been receiving not less than \1/2\ of
the child's support from such individual for a period of not
less than 12 months; and
``(iii) the period during which the child was living with
such individual began before the child attained age 18.
``(C) In the case of a child who is less than 12 months old, such
child shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subparagraph (B) if,
on the date the child attains 1 year of age, such child has lived with
such individual in the United States and received at least \1/2\ of the
child's support from such individual for substantially all of the
period which began on the date of such child's birth.''; and
(2) in section 216(e), in the first sentence--
(A) by striking ``grandchild or stepgrandchild of
an individual or his spouse'' and inserting
``grandchild, stepgrandchild, or other first-degree,
second-degree, third-degree, fourth-degree, or fifth-
degree relative of an individual or the individual's
spouse'';
(B) by striking ``was no natural or adoptive
parent'' and inserting ``is no living natural or
adoptive parent'';
(C) by striking ``was under a disability'' and
inserting ``is under a disability'';
(D) by striking ``living at the time'' and all that
follows through ``, or (B)'' and inserting ``, (B)'';
and
(E) by inserting ``, or (C) a court of competent
jurisdiction has issued an order granting custody of
such person to the individual or the individual's
spouse'' before the first period.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 202(d)(1) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C)'' and
inserting ``subparagraphs (A) and (B) and subparagraph (C) or
paragraph (9) (as applicable)''; and
(2) by striking ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)'' and inserting
``subparagraph (B) and subparagraph (C) or paragraph (9) (as
applicable)''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to applications for child's insurance benefits filed
in calendar year 2020, except that such amendments shall not apply for
purposes of determining continuing eligibility for child's insurance
benefits for any month after such calendar year.
SEC. 10. UPDATE IN ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
PROGRAM.
(a) Update in General Income Exclusion.--Section 1612(b)(2)(A) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382a(b)(2)(A)) shall be applied for
calendar year 2020 by substituting ``$1,476'' for ``$240''.
(b) Update in Earned Income Exclusion.--Section 1612(b)(4) of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 1382a(b)(4)) shall be applied for calendar year 2020 by
substituting ``4,788'' for ``$780'' each place it appears.
(c) Update in Resource Limit for Individuals and Couples.--Section
1611(a)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(a)(3)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the
following: ``Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, such
dollar amount shall be deemed to be $20,000 for calendar year
2020 only.''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the
following: ``Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, such
dollar amount shall be deemed to be $10,000 for calendar year
2020 only.''.
SEC. 11. SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE FURNISHED IN KIND NOT INCLUDED AS
INCOME.
(a) In General.--Section 1612(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1382a(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(other than support or maintenance
furnished in kind)'' after ``all other income''; and
(2) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``or kind'';
(B) by striking clause (i) and redesignating
clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii),
respectively; and
(C) in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``and the provisions of clause (i) shall not
be applicable''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1611(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(c)) is
amended by striking paragraph (6) and redesignating paragraphs
(7) through (10) as paragraphs (6) through (9), respectively.
(2) Section 1612(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382a(a)(2))
is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a period;
(C) by moving subparagraph (G) 2 ems to the right;
and
(D) by striking subparagraph (H).
(3) Section 1621(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382j(c)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(c) In determining the amount of income of an alien during the
period of 5 years after such alien's entry into the United States,
support or maintenance furnished in cash to the alien by such alien's
sponsor (to the extent that it reflects income or resources which were
taken into account in determining the amount of income and resources to
be deemed to the alien under subsection (a) or (b) of this section)
shall not be considered to be income of such alien under section
1612(a)(2)(A).''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply for purposes of determining eligibility to supplemental security
income benefits for months during calendar year 2020.
SEC. 12. HOLDING SSI, MEDICAID, AND CHIP BENEFICIARIES HARMLESS.
For purposes of determining the income of an individual to
establish eligibility for, and the amount of, benefits payable under
title XVI of the Social Security Act, eligibility for medical
assistance under the State plan under title XIX (or a waiver of such
plan), or eligibility for child health assistance under the State child
health plan under title XXI (or a waiver of the plan), the amount of
any benefit to which the individual is entitled under title II of such
Act shall be deemed not to exceed the amount of the benefit that would
be determined for such individual under such title as in effect on the
day before the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 13. EXPEDITED ADJUSTMENT OF UNDERPAYMENTS.
In any case in which, as a result of a provision of this Act or an
amendment made by this Act, the Commissioner determines that an
underpayment of benefits has occurred, the Commissioner shall pay the
balance of the amount due as soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 14. APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.
There are appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury to the
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Fund such sums as necessary to pay for the
increases in benefits paid from such Trust Funds attributable to
sections 3 through 9 of this Act and the amendments made by such
sections.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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