Retirement Social Security

New Social Security Plans Could Expand Benefits for Millions (Will You Be One?)

Two new proposals in Congress could reshape survivor and retirement benefits.

By Adam Palasciano

Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated Dec. 30, 2025

For retirees watching every dollar, even small changes to Social Security benefits can make a meaningful difference. Lawmakers are now weighing two proposals that aim to expand who qualifies for benefits and temporarily increase monthly payments.

Together, these measures reflect growing concern about survivor protections, disability rules, and inflation pressure. While nothing is guaranteed, both bills could reshape how Social Security benefits work for millions of older Americans.

Here's what retirees need to know.

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What is the SWIFT Act?

The newly introduced SWIFT Act, short for Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment Act, focuses on modernizing survivor benefit rules. Under current law, many widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses with disabilities face age-based restrictions or reduced payments. The SWIFT Act would allow eligible survivors with disabilities to receive full survivor benefits regardless of age.

In addition, the bill expands "child-in-care" survivor benefits, offering added support to families raising children following the death of a parent. This provision recognizes the financial strain that caregiving responsibilities can place on surviving spouses.

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Who benefits from the SWIFT Act?

The SWIFT Act is designed primarily to help widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses with disabilities who currently receive reduced benefits. Many of these individuals may rely heavily on Social Security as a primary income source, especially if health issues limit their ability to work. For retirees who lost a spouse earlier in life, the proposal could help close long-standing benefit gaps.

These changes would be especially impactful for households with limited savings or fixed incomes, where even modest increases improve financial stability.

The SWIFT Act's progress in Congress

As of now, the SWIFT Act has been introduced in the House and referred to committee. That means it is still in the early stages of the legislative process, and it remains unclear whether it will become law. Supporters of the bill, like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), argue that the bill is necessary to correct outdated rules that disproportionately affect vulnerable survivors.

If it advances, the SWIFT Act would represent one of the more targeted benefit expansions in recent years, particularly for disabled survivors and caregiving families.

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Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act explained

Alongside the SWIFT Act, lawmakers have proposed the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act. This bill would temporarily increase Social Security and related benefit checks by $200 per month through mid-2026. The supplemental payment would be added on top of the scheduled 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment set for January 2026. The goal is to provide short-term relief as retirees face higher costs for housing, groceries, and health care.

The proposal acknowledges that recent COLAs have not always kept pace with real-world expenses for older Americans.

Possible pros and cons of each proposal

Both bills could provide meaningful financial relief, but could each also come with trade-offs. Understanding the potential upsides and drawbacks can help retirees set realistic expectations as the proposals move through Congress.

SWIFT Act

A key advantage of the SWIFT Act is fairer access to survivor benefits for disabled spouses and caregivers. It could reduce financial hardship for survivors who currently face arbitrary age thresholds.

On the downside, expanded benefits could increase long-term program costs, which may concern fiscal conservatives. There is also no guarantee the bill advances without amendments that narrow eligibility.

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Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act

The inflation relief proposal offers immediate help through higher monthly checks, which many retirees would welcome. A temporary boost could ease short-term budget pressure without permanently changing benefit formulas.

However, because the increase is not permanent, it does not solve long-term affordability challenges. Additionally, temporary payments could possibly accelerate trust fund strain without structural reform.

Bottom line

Congress is actively debating changes that could expand survivor benefits and provide short-term inflation relief for retirees. While both proposals are still early in the process, they signal growing recognition that current Social Security rules do not always reflect modern economic realities.

For retirees, staying informed can help you plan ahead, adjust income strategies, and look for ways to maximize your senior benefits as policy discussions evolve. Understanding how these proposals fit into the broader Social Security system may also help you decide when to claim benefits, how to budget future income, and what questions to raise with financial or tax professionals as new details emerge.

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