For millions of widowed Americans trying to stretch Social Security survivor benefits in an era of rising costs, help may finally be on the way.
A new proposal in Congress would overhaul long-standing restrictions that critics say have left some of the nation’s most vulnerable households with reduced payments and outdated eligibility rules.
The push comes as nearly 5.8 million people receive survivor benefits, and lawmakers acknowledge that many rely on them as their primary source of income.
The legislation, known as the Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment Act, the SWIFT Act, was introduced this week by a group of Senate Democrats who argue that the current system no longer reflects the realities of modern American families.
Under existing rules, most surviving spouses and divorced spouses can only claim benefits at age 60 or older, and those who file early face permanent reductions. Disabled survivors face similar barriers.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said those restrictions have left too many people “just trying to get by” after losing a spouse.
“Our seniors have spent a lifetime working hard and paying into Social Security, and they deserve to retire with dignity,” she said. “Outdated rules mean widowed spouses, especially women, aren’t receiving the benefits they’ve earned.”
What the SWIFT Act would change
The bill proposes some of the most consequential revisions to survivor benefits in decades. Among the key provisions:
- Disabled widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses could receive full survivor benefits at any age
- Early-claiming penalties for disabled survivors would be eliminated
- Remarriage would no longer disqualify individuals from receiving survivor benefits
- Parents caring for children under 18 (or 19 if still in high school) would qualify for expanded child-in-care benefits
- Survivors who delay claiming after retirement age would receive increased monthly payments beginning in 2027
Senator Richard Blumenthal called the measure a fix to “burdensome hurdles and arbitrary requirements” that have long prevented survivors from collecting full benefits.
“Social Security is a lifeline,” he said. “With this legislation, we make sure no American is missing out on the benefits they need to live with dignity.”
The bill also includes protections for low-income households: any new or increased benefits provided under the SWIFT Act would not count against eligibility for other federal or state programs, preventing reductions in housing or food-assistance aid.
Part of a broader push to strengthen Social Security
The SWIFT Act arrives alongside several other Democratic proposals aimed at increasing Social Security payments for retirees and survivors.
Those include a temporary $200 monthly boost through July 2026 and a revised formula for calculating annual cost-of-living adjustments to better reflect seniors’ expenses.
Supporters say the changes are overdue as inflation, medical bills, and caregiving responsibilities continue to outpace benefit growth.
Critics argue the proposals need bipartisan support and long-term funding solutions before advancing.
The bill has been referred to committee, where lawmakers will debate it and potentially revise its structure before any floor vote. If passed, the major provisions would take effect on January 1, 2027.
For now, widowed spouses and surviving divorced partners will be watching closely. After years of navigating rigid rules and reduced payments, the SWIFT Act represents a rare chance at meaningful expansion, and a potential lifeline for families who rely on survivor benefits to stay financially stable.