Bill · S. 4396· Senate(119-S-4396)
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 4/27/2026
- Last activity
- 4/27/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Christopher Murphy
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026 aims to amend the Social Security Act to assist unpaid caregivers. It proposes to credit individuals who provide care for dependent relatives with deemed wages for their service. This credit is designed to bolster economic prospects and provide retirement security for those providing unpaid care. The bill defines qualifying months based on specific hour requirements and the relationship to the dependent. It establishes a cap on the number of months that can be counted toward benefits. The legislation also outlines specific documentation and certification requirements for claimants.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this strengthen Social Security?+5
The bill amends the Social Security Act to include deemed wages for individuals providing care to dependent relatives.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+3
The bill provides enhanced retirement security for those caring for elderly relatives.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
The bill bolsters the economic prospects and retirement security of unpaid caregivers.
The opposite
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-1
The bill increases the Social Security obligations by creating new deemed wage credits for caregivers.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-1
The bill introduces new administrative requirements and certification processes for caregivers to verify their status.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Retirement Security: The bill aims to bolster the economic prospects of unpaid caregivers and provide them with vital retirement security (Section 2, a, 2).
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Financial Credit for Caregivers: Individuals engaged in providing care for at least 80 hours in a month can be deemed to have earned wages, which can increase their monthly Social Security benefits or lump-sum death payments (Section 3, a, 1, A; Section 3, b, 1, A).
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Support for Caregivers of Children: Caregivers of children under the age of 12 can receive credit for their service (Section 3, a, 2, A).
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Support for Caregivers of Chronically Dependent Relatives: Individuals caring for family members who are chronically dependent, such as parents, grandparents, or siblings, can receive credit (Section 3, a, 2, B).
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Non-Monetary Status for Veteran Assistance: Assistance provided to a family caregiver of an eligible veteran is not considered monetary compensation, allowing the credit to still apply (Section 3, a, 1, C).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Duration of Credit: The credit is limited to a maximum of 60 qualifying months (Section 3, b, 1, B).
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Age Restrictions on Benefits: A qualifying month cannot include any month that ends after the individual reaches retirement age (Section 3, a, 1, B).
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Administrative Burdens and Documentation Requirements: Individuals must submit applications that include identifying information and, for certain relatives, documentation from a physician explaining why the relative is chronically dependent (Section 3, c, 2, A).
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Requirement for Periodic Recertification: For any qualifying period occurring after the first 12 consecutive months, the individual must certify that their provided information has not changed (Section 3, c, 2, B).
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Benefit Limitation: The deemed wages will not be applied if a larger benefit or payment would already be payable without the application of this section (Section 3, b, 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Seniors+3Good For Children+2Good For People With Disabilities+2Good For Veterans+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Social Security+5
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency-1
- 4/27/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York