Clay Higgins (R-LA)
Protecting Elders From Government Error Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Protecting Elders From Government Error Act," seeks to amend title II of the Social Security Act. It proposes specific limitations on how the Social Security Commissioner recovers overpayments. For old-age insurance benefits, recovery is prohibited if the overpayment resulted from a Commissioner error and occurred more than 6 months before the finding. Additionally, the bill limits monthly benefit decreases to no more than 5 percent if the overpayment was due to a Commissioner error. These protections do not apply if the individual has committed fraud or similar faults.
Yes
- Scored +8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill directly protects seniors receiving old-age insurance benefits from large financial losses due to government errors.
- Scored +8
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill provides financial security to retirees by limiting the impact of Social Security overpayment errors.
- Scored +6
Does this strengthen Social Security?
The bill enhances Social Security protections by limiting the recovery of overpayments caused by administrative errors.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection against full recovery of old debts: Under Section 2, subsection (a), if an overpayment for old-age insurance benefits was caused by an error by the Commissioner and happened more than 6 months before it was found, the government may not recover that money.
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Limits on monthly benefit reductions: According to Section 2, subsection (b), if an overpayment was caused by a Commissioner error regarding old-age insurance benefits, the Commissioner cannot decrease a person's monthly benefit by more than 5 percent.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exceptions for fraud: Under Section 2, subsection (c), the protections regarding recovery limitations and benefit withholding limits do not apply if the Commissioner determines that a person has committed fraud or similar fault regarding the program.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill provides financial security to retirees by limiting the impact of Social Security overpayment errors. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill directly protects seniors receiving old-age insurance benefits from large financial losses due to government errors.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill enhances Social Security protections by limiting the recovery of overpayments caused by administrative errors.
- 9/3/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Introduced in House