YourVoice.Now Summary
Exempts pandemic-era earnings (2020-2023) from Social Security's retirement earnings test for health workers and first responders.
The details
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
Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act This bill exempts from the Social Security Retirement Earnings Test (RET) wages earned through work as a health care professional or first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the RET, benefits are reduced for beneficiaries who are younger than full retirement age if they earn wages in excess of a specified annual limit. Further, the Social Security Administration may issue waivers to individuals employed as health care professionals or first responders during a declared public health emergency in which there is a shortage of health care workers. Wages earned by individuals granted waivers during a public health emergency are exempt from the RET.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-12-09
- Date Added
- 2026-04-03
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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