Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would formally credit unpaid family caregiving by treating that time as _deemed wages_ for Social Security benefit calculations for up to five years. It creates rules for which relatives and care situations qualify and sets a process for verifying and counting those months toward retirement and lump-sum death payments.
Show full summary
- Caregivers: Gives unpaid caregivers a monthly "deemed wage" for each qualifying month if they provide at least 80 hours of care. Those deemed wages count toward Social Security benefits for up to 60 months and use a formula tied to the national average wage.
- Families and dependents: Defines eligible dependents narrowly. It covers children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews under age 12, people in loco parentis, and other relatives when the dependent is chronically dependent and needs help with daily tasks.
- Administration and verification: Directs the Social Security Commissioner to write regulations and set application and certification rules within one year. Applicants must supply dependent information and physician documentation when required and certify ongoing eligibility.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New Social Security caregiver credit
If enacted, you would be able to get Social Security credit for months you provided at least 80 hours of unpaid care to an eligible dependent. For each qualifying month after December 2026, the bill would treat you as having a monthly wage equal to 50% of the national average wage index for the calendar year two years earlier, reduced by half of any wages or self‑employment income you had that month. Only the last 60 qualifying months would count. Months that end after your Social Security retirement age would not count. You would need to apply to the Social Security Commissioner, give the dependent's name and ID, and provide a doctor's note if the dependent is not a child under 12. The Commissioner would have one year after enactment to issue implementing and fraud‑prevention rules, and you would periodically certify that the information remains accurate.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov