Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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
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
- Scored +5
Does this strengthen Social Security?
The bill amends the Social Security Act to include deemed wages for individuals providing care to dependent relatives.
- Scored +3
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill provides enhanced retirement security for those caring for elderly relatives.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill bolsters the economic prospects and retirement security of unpaid caregivers.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill increases the Social Security obligations by creating new deemed wage credits for caregivers.
- Scored -1
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
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. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill bolsters the economic prospects and retirement security of unpaid caregivers. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides enhanced retirement security for those caring for elderly relatives. Would children be better off under this? — The bill recognizes caregivers of children under age 12 by providing them with Social Security credits. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill provides financial security to those caring for chronically dependent relatives with disabilities. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill specifically includes provisions to ensure caregivers of eligible veterans can benefit from the credit.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill amends the Social Security Act to include deemed wages for individuals providing care to dependent relatives.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill allows caregivers of eligible veterans to count their service toward Social Security credits without it being considered monetary compensation.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill supports unpaid caregivers, which can help maintain stability for those providing home-based health care.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill increases the Social Security obligations by creating new deemed wage credits for caregivers.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill introduces new administrative requirements and certification processes for caregivers to verify their status.
- 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