Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act
A Democratic bill with 8 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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 "Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act," seeks to amend title II of the Social Security Act. It requires the Commissioner of Social Security to use either the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) or the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E). The goal is to use whichever index results in a higher percentage for determining cost-of-living adjustments under titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act. The bill also includes provisions for pre-1979 law and establishes requirements for the Bureau of Labor Statistics to publish the CPI-E. These changes would take effect for determinations regarding cost-of-living computation quarters ending on or after September 30, 2026.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill enhances the purchasing power of seniors by potentially increasing their cost-of-living adjustments through the CPI-E index.
- Scored +7
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill increases the value of retirement benefits by ensuring cost-of-living adjustments reflect the spending patterns of the elderly.
- Scored +6
Does this strengthen Social Security?
The bill increases Social Security benefit amounts by allowing the use of the higher of the CPI-W or CPI-E index for cost-of-living adjustments.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill increases government obligations by requiring higher potential cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Higher Cost-of-Living Adjustments: By requiring the use of whichever index—the CPI-W or the CPI-E—results in a higher percentage, the bill aims to provide potentially larger cost-of-living adjustments for those receiving benefits under titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Targeted Economic Tracking: The bill requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to publish the "Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers," which tracks changes in expenditures typical for individuals in the United States who have attained age 62 (Section 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
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 increases the value of retirement benefits by ensuring cost-of-living adjustments reflect the spending patterns of the elderly. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill enhances the purchasing power of seniors by potentially increasing their cost-of-living adjustments through the CPI-E index. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill benefits low-income households that rely on Social Security and Title XVI payments through higher indexed adjustments.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill increases Social Security benefit amounts by allowing the use of the higher of the CPI-W or CPI-E index for cost-of-living adjustments.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill increases government obligations by requiring higher potential cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients.
- 10/27/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 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.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts