During the COVID-19 pandemic, many retired health care workers and first responders came back to work — but their extra earnings triggered Social Security benefit reductions under what's called the "retirement earnings test." This bill would exempt those pandemic-era wages (from January 2020 through May 2023) so those workers aren't penalized for stepping up. It also sets up a process to waive the earnings test for health care workers and first responders during any future public health emergencies where there's a workforce shortage.
Congressional Summary
Exempts COVID-19 pandemic healthcare and first responder wages from Social Security Retirement Earnings Test and allows waiver eligibility during public health emergencies.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Action Date
- 2025-12-09
- Date Added
- 2026-04-03
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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