This bill would amend Social Security to give unpaid family caregivers credit toward their retirement benefits. Specifically, individuals who spend at least 80 hours per month caring for a dependent relative without payment would receive deemed wages equal to 50 percent of the national average wage index for up to five years of caregiving service. The bill covers care for children under age 12 and for chronically dependent relatives of any age, including parents, grandparents, siblings, and spouses who require daily assistance with basic living activities. The Social Security Administration would need to establish application procedures and certification requirements within one year of enactment, and caregivers would need to provide documentation from a physician for dependent adults to verify their chronic dependence. The deemed wage credits would apply to benefit calculations for any months after December 2026, potentially increasing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for caregivers who might otherwise have little or no Social Security earnings history.
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