Social Security: The Election Is Coming. Keep Watching.
September is always a busy time in Washington, and this year was no different. With the November elections getting closer, members of Congress are spending more time back home and turning their attention toward the campaign trail. The House wrapped up its September work early and is not scheduled to return until after the midterm elections.
For those of us who follow Social Security closely, the weeks ahead will be worth watching. Even as Washington shifts its focus toward the elections, important work remains to be done on Social Security.
What’s Happening with Social Security?
Several bills affecting Social Security were introduced or advanced during September. A few that caught our attention include:
- The Protecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement Act (H.R. 10235) was introduced on September 2nd. The legislation would increase Social Security benefits for certain widows and widowers in two-income households.
- Protecting Elders From Government Error Act (H.R. 10243) was introduced on September 3rd. If passed, it would limit the Social Security Administration’s ability to recover overpayments of old-age benefits when the overpayment results from government error.
- The Survivor Benefits Application Modernization Act (H.R. 10428) was introduced on September 16th. It would modernize the application process for Social Security survivor benefits.
- The Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026 (S.5456) is a Senate bill introduced on September 22nd that amends the Higher Education Act to prohibit reducing or offsetting Social Security benefits (such as retirement or disability payments) due to an individual’s federal student loan default.
- Congress also moved forward with legislation addressing Social Security administration. The Senate passed H.R. 5345, the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act, which would establish a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration for victims of identity theft.
These bills cover a range of issues, from survivor benefits and beneficiary protections to improving how the Social Security Administration serves the public. They are important pieces of the larger Social Security conversation, but they do not address the program’s long-term financing challenge.
The Bigger Picture
The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report projects that the combined Social Security trust funds will be depleted in 2034 if Congress does not make changes. At that point, incoming revenue would cover about 83% of scheduled benefits. The retirement and survivors trust fund is projected to reach depletion in the fourth quarter of 2032, with enough revenue to pay about 78% of scheduled benefits.
Those are sobering numbers for today’s retirees and workers counting on Social Security in the years ahead. The good news is that Congress still has time to address the problem. But the longer action is delayed, the harder it will be to implement changes over a longer phase-in period.
Looking Ahead to the Election
September also made it clear that the 2026 elections are shaping Congress’s schedule. House members headed home early to campaign, and attention in Washington is increasingly turning toward the November 3rd election.
After the election, the members of Congress who return to Washington will have an important job ahead of them. Social Security’s long-term finances will still need attention, and the decisions made in the next Congress could have lasting consequences for beneficiaries and future retirees.
For now, we’ll continue to follow the developments in Washington and keep you informed. Social Security remains one of the most important issues for older Americans, and we’ll be here to keep it in the conversation.
