[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2126 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2126

 To amend title II of the Social Security Act to reduce from 60 to 55 
 the age at which an individual who is otherwise eligible may be paid 
                widow's or widower's insurance benefits.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 2005

  Mr. Filner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title II of the Social Security Act to reduce from 60 to 55 
 the age at which an individual who is otherwise eligible may be paid 
                widow's or widower's insurance benefits.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Survivors' Fairness 
Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. REDUCTION IN AGE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR WIDOW'S AND WIDOWER'S 
              INSURANCE BENEFITS.

    (a) Widow's Insurance Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--Section 202(e)(1) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 402(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``age 60'' 
        each place it appears in subparagraph (B) and in the matter 
        following subparagraph (F) and inserting ``age 55''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 202(e)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                402(e)(3)(A)) is amended by striking ``age 60'' and 
                inserting ``age 55''.
                    (B) Section 202(e)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                402(e)(4)) is amended by striking ``age 60'' and 
                inserting ``age 55''.
    (b) Widower's Insurance Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--Section 202(f)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        402(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``age 60'' each place it 
        appears in subparagraph (B) and in the matter following 
        subparagraph (F) and inserting ``age 55''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 202(f)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                402(f)(3)(A)) is amended by striking ``age 60'' and 
                inserting ``age 55''.
                    (B) Section 202(f)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                402(f)(4)) is amended by striking ``age 60'' and 
                inserting ``age 55''.
    (c) Adjustment to Reduction Percentage With Retirement Age at Age 
65.--
            (1) Reduction in monthly reduction.--Section 202(q)(1)(A) 
        of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(q)(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
        ``\19/40\ of 1 percent'' and inserting ``\19/80\ of 1 
        percent''.
            (2) Expansion of maximum reduction period.--Section 
        202(q)(6)(A)(iii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(q)(6)(A)(iii)), by 
        striking ``age 60'' and inserting ``age 55''.
    (d) Additional Conforming Amendments.--Title II of such Act is 
further amended--
            (1) in the last sentence of section 203(c) (42 U.S.C. 
        403(c)), by striking ``age 60'' and inserting ``age 55'';
            (2) in clause (D) of the last sentence of section 203(f)(1) 
        (42 U.S.C. 403(f)(1)(D)), by striking ``age 60'' and inserting 
        ``age 55'';
            (3) in section 216(l)(2), by striking ``age 60'' and 
        inserting ``age 55'';
            (4) in the first sentence of section 222(c)(3) (42 U.S.C. 
        422(c)(3)), by striking ``age 60'' and inserting ``age 55'';
            (5) in section 222(d)(1) (42 U.S.C. 422(d)(1)), by striking 
        ``age 60'' in clauses (C) and (D), and inserting in each 
        instance ``age 55''; and
            (6) in section 225(a) (42 U.S.C. 425(a)), by striking ``age 
        60'' each place it appears and inserting ``age 55''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to monthly 
insurance benefits payable under title II of the Social Security Act 
for months after the month in which this Act is enacted.
                                 <all>