Baby Bonus Act
Sponsored By: Representative Tlaib
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create an Office of Baby Assistance at the Social Security Administration and establish a new federal baby bonus of $2,000 per qualifying child. It would set up a Deputy Commissioner to run the office, hire staff, make payments, write rules, conduct outreach, and report to Congress.
Show full summary
- Families: Eligible parents could get a $2,000 payment per qualifying child starting January 1, 2026, with separate payments for multiple children from a single pregnancy and the option for an advance up to 60 days before a due date. Applications must be filed within 1 year after birth or after a qualifying fetal loss.
- Social Security administration staff and operations: The Deputy Commissioner could hire personnel, enter contracts, verify applications within 14 days, prevent fraud, and issue an annual report showing recipients, funds disbursed, and demographic data.
- Healthcare and documentation: Physicians can certify gestational age for prebirth claims and the bill preserves eligibility after fetal loss of 20 weeks or more. Personal data submitted may only be used to determine baby bonus eligibility.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Cash baby bonus for each child
If enacted, eligible parents could get $2,000 per qualifying child in 2026. Each year after 2026, the amount would rise with a cost‑of‑living increase and be rounded down to the nearest whole dollar. You would get a separate payment for each child from the same pregnancy.
New Social Security office for baby bonus
This bill would create an Office of Baby Assistance at Social Security. A Deputy Commissioner would run it, hire staff, and issue rules. The office would review applications, pay benefits, prevent fraud, and do outreach in many languages. It would send Congress a yearly report on recipients, total money paid, and demographics.
Who qualifies and which parent gets paid
Starting January 1, 2026, the bill would set who counts as an eligible parent and a qualifying child. You must live in the U.S. and be a citizen, national, or qualified alien. Intended parents in surrogacy and some prospective adoptive parents could qualify. A fetus at 20 or more weeks with a due date on or after January 1, 2026, with a doctor’s certification, would also qualify. If more than one parent applies, payment would go to the parent with primary or sole physical custody, or be split under equal joint custody if requested. The agency could move or recover the payment within one year if custody changes, the recipient dies or is incapacitated, there was fraud, or a pre‑birth adoption is not completed within 60 days.
Application steps and payment timing rules
Beginning January 1, 2026, you would need to apply to receive a baby bonus. Social Security would verify your application within 14 days, and you generally must apply within one year after birth (or after the date of death when that applies). Pre‑birth applicants could get an advance up to 60 days before the due date, with a doctor’s form if the pregnancy is at least 20 weeks. After approval, known eligible parents get 21 days to object; payment would then be made within 6 business days, or within 10 business days if notice is not needed. Social Security would treat a child’s Social Security number application as a baby bonus application unless you opt out; a spouse, doctor, lawyer, or approved agency could apply for you.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tlaib
MI • D
Cosponsors
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 11/21/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 11/28/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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