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119-hr-6543119th CongressWALLET

Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act

Sponsored By: Representative Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would exempt certain wages of health care workers and first responders from the Social Security retirement earnings test. It creates a time-limited exemption for a defined pandemic-era period and a framework to allow similar exemptions during future public health emergencies, and it authorizes the Social Security Commissioner to issue waivers and report on staffing shortages.

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  • Health care workers and first responders: Wages paid during the covered historical period and during declared public health emergencies would not count toward excess earnings that can reduce retirement benefits. This protects pay earned while responding to shortages.
  • Social Security beneficiaries who return to work: Older adults collecting retirement benefits who worked in qualifying roles would face fewer benefit reductions tied to the earnings test for excluded pay.
  • Social Security Administration and emergency response: The bill lets the Commissioner waive rules and requires reporting on waivers and personnel shortages to guide emergency responses.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ignore past health worker wages for retirees

If enacted, Social Security would ignore wages you earned as a health care professional or first responder from January 31, 2020 through May 11, 2023 when checking for excess earnings that reduce retirement benefits. You would need to attest and provide evidence that you worked in that job during those dates. This could restore benefits that were withheld or stop reductions for people who worked and collected retirement pay in that period.

Protect Social Security checks for health workers

If enacted, Social Security could exclude wages you earn as a health care professional or first responder during an HHS-declared public health emergency if the Commissioner grants you a waiver. The HHS Secretary must determine there is a shortage of health workers before waivers are allowed. You would need to attest and provide evidence to get a waiver. The Commissioner must issue guidance soon after enactment and report to Congress each year on waivers issued.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

PA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/16/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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