Congress expands Social Security benefits through 2036, then lets them expire.

What it does

The Social Security 2100 Act increases benefits for current and future retirees through 2036 by raising the benefit calculation percentage from 90% to 93%, improving cost-of-living adjustments to use a more elderly-friendly price index, raising minimum benefits for low-wage workers, and extending benefits to students through age 26 and caregivers. All major provisions sunset after 2036, reverting to current law.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a direct increase in benefit payments to Social Security recipients across multiple categories (retirees, disabled workers, students, caregivers, widows/widowers) through formula adjustments and eligibility expansions, all sunset after 2036.

What the text implies

• All benefit increases expire December 31, 2036, reverting to current law — beneficiaries receiving enhanced benefits will see automatic reductions unless Congress acts to extend or make permanent.
• Caregiver credit provision (Section 107) requires physician documentation and SSA certification for chronically dependent relatives, creating administrative burden and potential fraud-prevention gatekeeping that may exclude eligible caregivers.
• Elimination of 5-month disability waiting period (Section 108) and softened work-related benefit reductions (Section 109) may increase work incentives for disabled beneficiaries but also increase program costs during 2027–2036 window.
• Extension of student benefits to age 26 for post-secondary students (Section 110) creates new eligibility category but definition of 'qualifying post-secondary school student' and 'half-time attendance' may be subject to regulatory interpretation disputes.
• Improved COLA using CPI-E (elderly-focused price index) benefits current retirees but creates administrative complexity requiring BLS to publish new index; transition rule uses research index (R-CPI-E) until CPI-E is published.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Ordinary retirees, disabled workers, students, caregivers, and widows/widowers receive materially higher benefits during 2027–2036. The bill expands eligibility (students to 26, caregivers, grandparent-raised children) and softens work penalties on disability beneficiaries, removing barriers to work and family support. Sunset provisions mean no permanent cost to future generations.

Who stands to gain

• Social Security beneficiaries (retirees, disabled workers, survivors)
• Students age 22–26 receiving child's benefits
• Caregivers of dependent relatives
• Widows and widowers in two-income households
• Long-term beneficiaries (15+ years of eligibility)

Named in the bill

Social Security Administration, Commissioner of Social Security, Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics), Department of Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Code Section 86, Social Security Act Sections 202, 209, 215, 216, 223, 226, Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, Higher Education Act of 1965

Where it stands

4 cosponsors: 4 Democrats.

• Jun 29, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jun 29, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce and House Committee on Education and Workforce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.