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S5532119th CongressWALLET

Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act

Sponsored By: Senator Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

Introduced

Summary

Would block the government from using administrative offsets to take Social Security, Railroad Retirement, and Black Lung benefits to repay other federal debts. It would repeal specific offset provisions in 31 U.S.C. 3716 and extend the Social Security offset prohibition to related railroad programs.

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  • Social Security beneficiaries: Their monthly benefits would not be reduced by administrative offsets to satisfy other government claims.
  • Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance beneficiaries: The bill would apply the same offset protections to railroad benefit programs.
  • Black Lung beneficiaries: Benefits for black lung claimants would be shielded from administrative collection actions.
  • Federal agencies that rely on administrative offsets: The bill would remove or void specific offset authorities in federal debt-collection law, limiting a tool agencies use to collect debts.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Protect Social Security benefit checks

If enacted, this bill would stop certain administrative offsets from cutting your Social Security (Title II) benefit checks. It would remove specified offset authority in 31 U.S.C. 3716(c), strike certain subparagraphs, and delete the phrase "the Commissioner of Social Security and" from paragraph (5). These changes would apply to any administrative offset collected on or after the date of enactment of this Act of a claim arising before, on, or after the date of enactment. It would not change who is eligible for Social Security benefits.

Protect railroad retirement and unemployment benefits

If enacted, this bill would extend the same ban on specified administrative offsets to Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance benefits. It would amend the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to apply section 207(d) of the Social Security Act to those titles to the same extent as Title II. The change would apply to any administrative offset collected on or after the date of enactment of this Act of a claim arising before, on, or after the date of enactment. This would protect benefit payments for people who get railroad retirement or railroad unemployment benefits.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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