Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced
Summary
Expand early retirement plan eligibility for 18-year-olds. This bill would let certain 18-year-old employees join employer retirement plans sooner by replacing the usual age-21 rule with age 18 or by letting workers qualify after 500 hours in each of two consecutive 12-month periods.
Show full summary
- Younger workers: Some 18-year-olds could start contributing to 401(k) or 403(b) plans earlier if they meet the age test or accumulate 500 hours across two consecutive 12-month periods.
- Employers and plan administrators: Plans must change eligibility rules and participant counts. Employees who participate solely because of this rule would not be counted as plan participants for 5 years after the first such participant joins.
- Law alignment and timing: The bill updates ERISA and Internal Revenue Code cross-references for 401(k), 403(b), and section 410 rules to ensure consistent application. The changes apply to plan years beginning 1 year after enactment.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Allow 18-year-olds into retirement plans
If enacted, you would be able to join your employer's retirement plan at age 18 instead of 21. If you do not meet the age test, you could also qualify after two back-to-back 12-month periods with at least 500 hours in each. These changes would apply to pension plans, 401(k) plans, and 403(b) plans for plan years beginning one year after enactment.
Delay counting young plan participants
If enacted, your employer would not count you in plan participant totals for five years if you joined only because of the new age‑18 rule. This affects certain participant-counting and compliance rules that plans use. The rule would apply for plan years beginning one year after enactment.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
LA • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Tommy Tuberville
AL • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Susan Collins
ME • R
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in