119-s3078

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3078 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 3078

To provide economic recovery payments to recipients of social security, 
 supplemental security income, railroad retirement benefits, and 
 veterans disability compensation or pension benefits.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 October 30, 2025

 Ms. Warren (for herself, Ms. Alsobrooks, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. 
 Gillibrand, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Smith, Mr. Van 
 Hollen, Mr. Welch, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
 Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To provide economic recovery payments to recipients of social security, 
 supplemental security income, railroad retirement benefits, and 
 veterans disability compensation or pension benefits.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Emergency Inflation 
Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. ECONOMIC RECOVERY PAYMENTS TO RECIPIENTS OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 
 SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME, RAILROAD RETIREMENT 
 BENEFITS, AND VETERANS DISABILITY COMPENSATION OR PENSION 
 BENEFITS.

    (a) Authority To Make Payments.--

    (1) Eligibility.--
        (A) In general.--
            (i) Eligibility for economic recovery 
 payment.--Subject to paragraph

    (5)
            (C) , for any 
 month during the applicable period, the 
 Secretary of the Treasury shall disburse, in 
 accordance with the certification made under 
 subsection

    (b) by the Commissioner of Social 
 Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, the 
 Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Director 
 of the Office of Personnel Management, as 
 applicable, an additional $200 monthly benefit 
 payment to each individual who, for any month 
 during such applicable period--
            (I) is entitled to a benefit 
 payment described in clause
            (i) ,
            (ii) ,
            (iii) , or
            (iv) of subparagraph
        (B) , or
            (II) is eligible for a SSI cash 
 benefit described in subparagraph
            (C) .
            (ii) Applicable period.--For purposes of 
 this section, the term ``applicable period'' 
 means any month during the period beginning on 
 January 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2026.
        (B) Benefit payment described.--For purposes of 
 subparagraph
        (A) :
            (i) Title ii benefit.--A benefit payment 
 described in this clause is a monthly insurance 
 benefit payable under title II of the Social 
 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), without 
 regard to sections 202

    (j)

    (1) and 223

    (b) of such 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 402

    (j)

    (1) , 423

    (b) ).
            (ii) Railroad retirement benefit.--A 
 benefit payment described in this clause is a 
 monthly annuity or pension payment payable 
 under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 
 U.S.C. 231 et seq.), without regard to 

section 5

    (a)
            (ii) of such Act (45 U.S.C. 231d

    (a)
            (ii) ).
            (iii) Veterans benefit.--A benefit payment 
 described in this clause is a compensation or 
 pension payment payable under--
            (I) section 1110, 1117, 1121, 1131, 
 1141, or 1151 of title 38, United 
 States Code;
            (II) section 1310, 1312, 1313, 
 1315, 1316, or 1318 of title 38, United 
 States Code;
            (III) section 1513, 1521, 1536, 
 1537, 1541, 1542, or 1562 of title 38, 
 United States Code; or
            (IV) section 1805, 1815, or 1821 of 
 title 38, United States Code,
 to a veteran, surviving spouse, child, or 
 parent as described in paragraph

    (2) ,

    (3) ,

    (4)
        (A)
            (ii) , or

    (5) of 

section 101, title 38, 
 United States Code, who received that benefit 
 during any month during the applicable period.
            (iv) Civil service retirement system 
 benefit.--A benefit payment described in this 
 clause is an annuity payment under subchapter 
 III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States 
 Code.
            (C) SSI cash benefit described.--A SSI cash benefit 
 described in this subparagraph is a cash benefit 
 payable under 

section 1611 (other than under subsection

    (e)

    (1)
        (B) of such section) or 1619

    (a) of the Social 
 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382, 1382h).

    (2) Requirement.--A payment shall be made under paragraph

    (1) only to individuals who reside in 1 of the 50 States, the 
 District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States 
 Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana 
 Islands. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the 
 determination of the individual's residence shall be based on 
 the current address of record under a program specified in 
 paragraph

    (1) .

    (3) No double payments.--An individual who is eligible for 
 a payment under this section shall be paid only 1 such payment 
 per month, regardless of whether the individual is entitled to, 
 or eligible for, more than 1 benefit or cash payment described 
 in paragraph

    (1) .

    (4) Limitation.--A payment under this section shall not be 
 made--
        (A) in the case of an individual entitled to a 
 benefit specified in paragraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (i) or a benefit 
 specified in paragraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (ii) , if the individual is 
 entitled to such benefit on the basis of 

section 7

    (b)

    (2) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 
 U.S.C. 231f

    (b)

    (2) ) if, for the most recent month of 
 such individual's entitlement in the applicable period, 
 such individual's benefit under such paragraph was not 
 payable by reason of subsection
            (x) or

    (y) of 

section 202 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) or 

section 1129A of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8a);
        (B) in the case of an individual entitled to a 
 benefit specified in paragraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (iii) if, for the 
 most recent month of such individual's entitlement in 
 the applicable period, such individual's benefit under 
 such paragraph was not payable, or was reduced, by 
 reason of 

section 1505, 5313, or 5313B of title 38, 
 United States Code;
            (C) in the case of an individual eligible for a 
 benefit specified in paragraph

    (1)
            (C) if, for the most 
 recent month in which the individual was so eligible in 
 the applicable period, such individual's benefit under 
 such paragraph was not payable by reason of subsection

    (e)

    (1)
        (A) or

    (e)

    (4) of 

section 1611 (42 U.S.C. 1382) or 
 

section 1129A of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8a); or
            (D) in the case of any individual whose date of 
 death occurs before the date on which the payment is 
 certified.

    (5) Timing and manner of payments.--
        (A) In general.--At the earliest practicable date 
 but in no event later than 30 days after the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social 
 Security, in coordination with the Railroad Retirement 
 Board, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the 
 Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall 
 commence certifying monthly payments under this 
 section. Such payments may be certified to be 
 electronically delivered in the same manner and to the 
 same account identified by the payee or on file with 
 the relevant agency through the applicable benefit 
 program described in paragraph

    (1) .
        (B) Notice requirements.--The Commissioner of 
 Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, the 
 Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Director of the 
 Office of Personnel Management (as applicable) shall 
 each, as soon as practicable after payments begin to be 
 issued under this section, provide each individual who 
 is determined to be eligible for such payments with a 
 notice that includes the following:
            (i) Information regarding the individual's 
 eligibility for payments under this section, 
 the amount of payments the individual is 
 eligible for, and the manner in which the 
 payments will be delivered.
            (ii) Notice that the payments under this 
 section are disregarded for Federal income tax 
 purposes and for purposes of determining 
 eligibility for, or the amount of, benefits or 
 assistance under any Federal or Federally-
 assisted benefit program.
            (C) Deadline.--No payments shall be disbursed by 
 the Secretary of the Treasury under this section after 
 July 1, 2026, regardless of any determinations of 
 entitlement to, or eligibility for, such payments made 
 after such date.

    (b) Identification of Recipients.--

    (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Social Security (in 
 coordination with the Railroad Retirement Board, the Secretary 
 of Veterans Affairs, and the Director of the Office of 
 Personnel Management) shall--
        (A) identify individuals entitled to, or eligible 
 for, more than 1 benefit or cash payment described in 
 paragraph

    (1) of subsection

    (a) for purposes of 
 ensuring compliance with paragraph

    (3) of such 
 subsection, and
        (B) certify the individuals entitled to receive 
 payments under this section and provide the Secretary 
 of the Treasury with the information needed for the 
 Secretary of the Treasury to disburse such payments.

    (2) Subsequent determination of entitlement or 
 eligibility.--A certification of an individual under this 
 subsection shall be unaffected by any subsequent determination 
 or redetermination of the individual's entitlement to, or 
 eligibility for, a benefit specified in subparagraph
        (B) or
            (C) of subsection

    (a)

    (1) .
            (c) Treatment of Payments.--

    (1) Payment to be disregarded for purposes of all federal 
 and federally assisted programs.--A payment under subsection

    (a) shall not be regarded as income and shall not be regarded 
 as a resource, for purposes of determining the eligibility of 
 the recipient (or the recipient's spouse or family) for 
 benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits or 
 assistance, under any Federal program or under any State or 
 local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.

    (2) Payment not considered income for purposes of 
 taxation.--A payment under subsection

    (a) shall not be 
 considered as gross income for purposes of the Internal Revenue 
 Code of 1986.

    (3) Payments protected from assignment.--The provisions of 
 sections 207 and 1631
            (d) (1) of the Social Security Act (42 
 U.S.C. 407, 1383
            (d) (1) ), 

section 14

    (a) of the Railroad 
 Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231m

    (a) ), and 

section 5301 of 
 title 38, United States Code, shall apply to any payment made 
 under subsection

    (a) as if such payment was a benefit payment 
 or cash benefit to such individual under the applicable program 
 described in subparagraph
        (B) or
            (C) of subsection

    (a)

    (1) .

    (4) Payments not subject to offset.--Notwithstanding 
 

section 3716 of title 31, United States Code, any payment made 
 under this section shall not--
        (A) be subject to offset under such section; and
        (B) be counted towards the amount of the exemption 
 for Federal benefit programs under subsection
            (c) (3)
        (A)
            (ii) of such section.
            (d) Payment to Representative Payees and Fiduciaries.--

    (1) In general.--In any case in which an individual who is 
 entitled to a payment under subsection

    (a) and whose benefit 
 payment or cash benefit described in paragraph

    (1) of that 
 subsection is paid to a representative payee or fiduciary, the 
 payment under subsection

    (a) shall be made to the individual's 
 representative payee or fiduciary and the entire payment shall 
 be used only for the benefit of the individual who is entitled 
 to the payment.

    (2) Applicability.--
        (A) Payment on the basis of a title ii or ssi 
 benefit.--

Section 1129

    (a)

    (3) of the Social Security Act 
 (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8

    (a)

    (3) ) shall apply to any payment 
 made on the basis of an entitlement to a benefit 
 specified in paragraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (i) or

    (1)
            (C) of 
 subsection

    (a) in the same manner as such section 
 applies to a payment under title II or XVI of such Act.
        (B) Payment on the basis of a railroad retirement 
 benefit.--

Section 13 of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 
 U.S.C. 231l) shall apply to any payment made on the 
 basis of an entitlement to a benefit specified in 
 paragraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (ii) of subsection

    (a) in the same 
 manner as such section applies to a payment under such 
 Act.
            (C) Payment on the basis of a veterans benefit.--
 Sections 5502, 6106, and 6108 of title 38, United 
 States Code, shall apply to any payment made on the 
 basis of an entitlement to a benefit specified in 
 paragraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (iii) of subsection

    (a) in the same 
 manner as those sections apply to a payment under that 
 title.

    (e) Appropriation.--Out of any sums in the Treasury of the United 
States not otherwise appropriated, the following sums are appropriated 
for fiscal year 2026, to carry out this section:

    (1) For the Secretary of the Treasury--
        (A) such sums as may be necessary for payments to 
 individuals certified by the Commissioner of Social 
 Security, Railroad Retirement Board, or the Secretary 
 of Veterans Affairs as entitled to receive payments 
 under this section; and
        (B) $11,000,000 for administrative costs incurred 
 in carrying out this section.

    (2) For the Commissioner of Social Security, $83,000,000 
 for the Social Security Administration's Limitation on 
 Administrative Expenses for costs incurred in carrying out this 
 section.

    (3) For the Railroad Retirement Board, $1,100,000 to the 
 Railroad Retirement Board's Limitation on Administration for 
 administrative costs incurred in carrying out this section.

    (4) For the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, $3,000,000 for 
 the Information Systems Technology account and $5,000,000 for 
 the General Operating Expenses account for administrative costs 
 incurred in carrying out this section.

    (5) For the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, 
 $10,000,000 for administrative costs incurred in carrying out 
 this section.
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