Photo by Síle Moloney
Amid what were described as skyrocketing prices in U.S. President Donald Trump’s America, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is leading the effort to increase Social Security benefits and help seniors combat the rising cost of living.
Gillibrand has introduced a new bill to expand Social Security benefits for widowed and surviving divorced spouses and is joined on the legislation by U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA).
She said the Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment (SWIFT) Act makes necessary changes to Social Security benefit rules by addressing outdated benefit caps, arbitrary legal restrictions, and claiming requirements, resulting in increased benefits for widowed and surviving divorced spouses.
“Our seniors have spent a lifetime working hard and paying into Social Security, and they deserve to receive adequate benefits and retire with dignity, not spend their golden years just trying to get by,” said Gillibrand. “But outdated rules and antiquated policies mean that too many seniors, especially widowed spouses, and women disproportionately, aren’t receiving the benefits they’ve earned or being treated fairly. Our SWIFT Act will help modernize the program and strengthen benefits for our seniors.”
Meanwhile, Blumenthal said the SWIFT Act corrects outdated rules and restrictions and removes barriers limiting Social Security benefits, ensuring widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses receive the Social Security benefits they rightfully deserve. “Social Security is a lifeline for Americans, playing a critical role in their economic security and financial well-being, and yet, many individuals face burdensome hurdles and arbitrary requirements preventing them from receiving the full benefits they are owed,” he said.
“With this legislation, we make sure that no American is missing out on the benefits they need to live with dignity,” he added.
Officials from Gillibrand’s office said the SWIFT Act allows widowed and surviving divorced spouses with disabilities to receive 100% of the survivor benefits they are entitled to, regardless of their age, and empowers widowed and surviving divorced spouses to increase their survivor benefits beyond current arbitrary caps. The legislation also expands child-in-care benefits for widowed and surviving divorced spouses caring for children, significantly helping families struggling with the costs of caregiving.
They said the legislation is supported by a number of organizations, including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, The Arc of the United States, Justice in Aging, Alliance for Retired Americans, National Association of Disability Representatives, Social Security Works, and Strengthen Social Security Coalition.
As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, officials from Gillibrand’s office said she is continuing what they described as her longstanding fight to increase benefits and lower costs for seniors.
They said she recently introduced the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, which would provide a $200-per-month increase to Social Security checks until July 2026, and the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act, which would increase Social Security benefits by leveraging the formula used to calculate yearly cost-of-living adjustments to better account for seniors’ expenses.
In response to Trump administration cuts and overhauls at the Social Security Administration, they said the senator has also rallied alongside seniors and unions to demand a reversal of staffing and service reductions, and introduced the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act, to undo President Trump’s damage to the agency.
They said Gillibrand is also part of Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attacks on Social Security and to ensure the American people can continue to rely on these programs that they say they have earned.
They said the War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about the Republican agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
As reported, the senator introduced a new bill earlier this year to cover free childbirth for families with private insurance.
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What about survivor’s?
My mother died and I received her survivors benefits. 360 a month. Does this include me ?? Or ONLY apply for SWIFT or the elderly?
Thank you!
I worked practically all my life, my income is not that great, getting an increased is like music to my ears i think that I’m entitled.
Senate budget reconciliation rules, bar changes to Social Security programs which prevented its inclusion. Instead, the new law establishes a temporary $6,000 tax deduction for seniors ages 65 and older from 2025 through 2028, subject to income-based eligibility limits.
X wife’s do not need a man’s money,this is horrible news. Sure it’s needed elsewhere just not a divorcee
Thank you so much! I have been living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Cheerios for 12 years.
That’s really good.that should have been long long ago I think so! Millions of people’s need there income on social security that’s all really they got to live on!!!
Sincerely Rayford l. Tate
I, as a single man who worked and contributed to SS for almost 50 years of my life and never received benefits as married couples do am disgusted with this blatant discrimination.
I worked hard, and it’s no easier for me
Absolute rubbish.
Tom McEntee
This is wonderful for those who’ll be covered. Good for them AND you. BUT, what about folks like me who’ve never married but are trying DESPERATELY to survive on less than 1000$ month? An extra 400$ monthly would VASTLY increase my, and others, standard of living! It’d be nice to not have to rely on whatever I can get from our local food banks. Don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciate the help but I’d like to not have to take food that others might need more than myself.
Thanks for your time. Please consider my suggestion.
Good luck getting anything passed that helps the non-billionaire class i.e. myself and millions more. No chance unless we become the majority party.
Never happen
it’s about time thank you.
I sure hope this bill passes, I for one have been widowed for the past 43 years and am barely getting along in this extremely expensive USA, not fair!!
This is so needed for all of us seniors, thank you for caring snd doing something to make a difference and do something to keep trumps put of the peoples pockets. I.sm.s survivor/widow and my rent alone is over $2000, and I need $4500 a month and I run out every month
Thank you from gooduear, az