Social Security benefits rise through 2036, then vanish—unless Congress acts

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%, adopting a more favorable cost-of-living adjustment (CPI-E for elderly consumers), raising the minimum benefit for low-wage workers, and extending benefits to post-secondary students through age 26 and to grandchildren raised by grandparents. All major provisions sunset after 2036. The bill also eliminates the 5-month waiting period for disability benefits, allows disabled workers to earn more before losing benefits, and credits caregiving years toward Social Security eligibility.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a direct expansion of Social Security benefit amounts, eligibility, and calculation methods for beneficiaries. All major provisions are time-limited to 2027–2036, making this a temporary benefit increase rather than a permanent structural reform.

What the text implies

• All benefit increases and eligibility expansions automatically expire after 2036 unless Congress acts to extend them, creating a 'cliff' for beneficiaries who may have relied on higher payments.
• The caregiver credit (Section 107) allows up to 5 years of unpaid caregiving to count toward Social Security eligibility, potentially benefiting primarily women who leave the workforce for family care.
• The elimination of the 5-month disability waiting period (Section 108) and the shift to a $1-for-$2 earnings offset (Section 109) may increase work incentives for disabled beneficiaries but also creates administrative complexity in tracking earnings.
• Extension of child benefits to age 26 for post-secondary students (Section 110) ties benefit eligibility to school enrollment status, requiring ongoing verification and potentially creating gaps if students take breaks.
• The bill does not address the long-term solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund; benefit increases are funded through general revenue transfers and taxation of benefits, not through payroll tax increases or structural reforms.

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

Who it affects

Ordinary Social Security beneficiaries—retirees, disabled workers, survivors, students, and caregivers—receive materially higher benefits and expanded eligibility through 2036. The bill removes barriers (5-month disability waiting period), credits unpaid caregiving work, and raises minimum protections for low-wage workers. All provisions sunset after 2036, creating a temporary but substantial public benefit with no identified cost to citizens.

Who stands to gain

• Social Security beneficiaries (retirees, disabled workers, survivors)
• Students aged 22–26 attending post-secondary institutions
• Caregivers (primarily women) providing unpaid care to dependents
• Low-wage workers (via increased minimum benefit)
• Grandchildren and other relatives raised by grandparents

Named in the bill

Social Security Administration, Commissioner of Social Security, Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics), Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, Social Security Trust Fund, Internal Revenue Code Section 86

Where it stands

4 cosponsors: 4 Democrats.

• Jul 21, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Jul 21, 2026 — Referred to Senate Committee on Finance · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance”

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