Claiming Age Clarity Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5284) to require the Social Security Administration to make changes to the social security terminology used in the rules, regulation, guidance, or other materials of the Administration, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5284

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Claiming Age Clarity Act''. SEC. 2. CHANGES TO SOCIAL SECURITY TERMINOLOGY.

Not later than the later of the date that is 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act or January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure that, in any rules, regulation, guidance, or other materials of the Social Security Administration, whether online or in print--

(1) the term ``early eligibility age'' is replaced with the term ``minimum monthly benefit age'';

(2) the terms ``full retirement age'' and ``normal retirement age'' are replaced with the term ``standard monthly benefit age''; and

(3) the term ``delayed retirement credit'' shall not be used and any reference to age 70 as the maximum age up to which delayed retirement credits can be received shall be replaced with the term ``maximum monthly benefit age''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Claiming Age Clarity Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by my Ways and Means colleagues, Representative Lloyd Smucker and Don Beyer.

Planning for one's retirement can be stressful enough without having to interpret needlessly complicated terminology. Unfortunately, millions of Americans claiming Social Security today often face confusing and misleading terms used by the agency that make it that much harder to make informed decisions about one's financial future.

Under the legislation before us, the Social Security Administration will be required to update the agency's language to make it clearer and more straightforward. This will help ensure that Americans do not accidentally claim benefits earlier than they should, are completely informed, and don't potentially miss out on substantial income during their retirement years.

This is critical for the nearly 100,000 citizens living in Representative Smucker's district and the over 80,000 in Representative Beyer's district who are nearing retirement age today. It is why organizations like the AARP, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Association of Mature American Citizens have come out in support of this bill, which received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Ways and Means Committee.

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, no American entering retirement should lose out on their hard-earned Social Security benefits because the Social Security Administration failed to provide information in clear and understandable terms. We need to make it easier and not harder for individuals to plan for retirement in this country.

The Claiming Age Clarity Act is a positive step in the right direction. Representatives Smucker and Beyer are to be commended for forging this bipartisan consensus on a policy that will improve retirement security and ensure the bureaucracy here in Washington better serves American seniors.

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