This bill would amend Social Security law to help Americans who were unlawfully detained or held hostage abroad by crediting them with deemed wages during the months they were held captive. Under the legislation, qualifying individuals would receive Social Security credit equal to one-twelfth of the national average wage index for each month they were wrongfully detained or taken hostage, which would increase their eventual Social Security benefits and any survivor benefits their families might receive. The bill applies to any U.S. national whose detention or hostage status was officially determined by a federal agency, including through findings made by the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell. Individuals seeking this credit would need to submit an application with documentation from a federal agency proving their status and specifying the dates of their detention or captivity. The Social Security Administration would have one year from the bill's enactment to write the necessary regulations, and the changes would take effect two years after the legislation becomes law.
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