PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] · R–NJ
Legislative record
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Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Mar 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.1547 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-24 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed SSA Reform Act of 2025 would deny specified retirement, disability, health coverage, and assistance benefits to people who are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. nationals. It would also require Homeland Security to tell the Social Security Administration about citizenship, immigration, or work authorization changes for people with Social Security numbers. Annual reports would describe those notifications, coordination between the agencies, and fraud detection.
This Act may be cited as the Social Security for Americans Reform Act of 2025 or the SSA Reform Act of 2025.
for any month in which an individual is not a citizen or national of the United States, such individual shall not be entitled to any benefit described in subsection (b).
(1) an old-age, survivors, or disability insurance benefit under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.); (2) benefits under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.);
(6) assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or (7) any other benefit administered by the Social Security Administration.
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the Commissioner of Social Security not later than 180 days after there is a change to the citizenship status, status under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)), or work authorization status of an individual to whom a social security account number has been issued.
Beginning on the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Social Security shall jointly submit to Congress a report
(4) The effectiveness of the notifications in preventing fraud and misuse of social security account numbers, including data on any fraudulent activities detected as a result of, or in part because of, the notifications, and any corrective actions taken. (5) The coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration
Homeland Security would have to notify the Social Security Commissioner within 180 days after a citizenship, immigration status, or work authorization change for anyone who has been issued a Social Security number.
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the Commissioner of Social Security not later than 180 days after there is a change to the citizenship status, status under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)), or work authorization status of an individual to whom a social security account number has been issued.
The two agency heads would have to submit a joint report to Congress starting one year after enactment and annually thereafter. Each report would cover the preceding year.
Beginning on the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Social Security shall jointly submit to Congress a report that includes, for the previous 1-year period, the following:
Reports would count notifications by type of status change, give the average notification time, and describe obstacles and recommendations for improving the process.
(1) The number of notifications under section 2 related to— (A) changes in citizenship status; (B) changes in status under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)); and (C) changes in work authorization status. (2) The average amount of time it took the Secretary to notify the Commissioner after a status change. (3) Any challenges or barriers faced during the notification process and recommendations for improving the notification process.
Reports would assess whether notifications help prevent fraud or misuse of Social Security numbers, including fraud detected partly or entirely through notifications and corrective actions taken. This is a reporting requirement, not evidence that notifications would prevent fraud.
(4) The effectiveness of the notifications in preventing fraud and misuse of social security account numbers, including data on any fraudulent activities detected as a result of, or in part because of, the notifications, and any corrective actions taken.
Reports would describe how the agencies share, manage, and secure data, along with effective practices, areas for improvement, and effects on service efficiency.
(5) The coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, detailing— (A) how data is shared, managed, and secured; and (B) best practices, areas for improvement, and the impact of data sharing on service efficiency.
The benefit restriction would apply for every month in which a person is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. national, overriding provisions of the two laws named in the bill. Its wording does not make an exception for lawful immigration status or work authorization. Citizens and nationals would fall outside this restriction; the provision does not itself grant them benefits.
(a) In general Notwithstanding any provision of the Social Security Act or title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), for any month in which an individual is not a citizen or national of the United States, such individual shall not be entitled to any benefit described in subsection (b).
The restricted benefits would include Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability insurance benefits, as well as Medicare.
(b) Benefits A benefit described in this subsection is— (1) an old-age, survivors, or disability insurance benefit under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.); (2) benefits under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.);
The restriction would also cover benefits under approved state plans under title XIX of the Social Security Act and state child health plans under title XXI. Both categories expressly include plans operating under waivers, which allow departures from some ordinary program rules.
(3) benefits under a State plan (or waiver of such plan) approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); (4) benefits under a State child health plan (or waiver of such plan) under title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.);
Supplemental Security Income would be covered, including the supplementary payments and agreement-based payments specifically referenced in the bill. The restriction would also reach assistance under state programs funded through title IV, part A, and any other benefit administered by the Social Security Administration.
(5) supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), including supplementary payments of the type described in section 1616(a) of such Act and payments pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 212(a) of Public Law 93–66); (6) assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or (7) any other benefit administered by the Social Security Administration.
The official-actions snapshot updated March 18, 2025, records introduction in the House on February 24, 2025, and referral that day to the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce committees for provisions within their respective jurisdictions.
Source snapshot updated 2025-03-18T15:12:29Z.
2025-02-24: Introduced in House
2025-02-24: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-24. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish what appears in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; accompanying earmark materials are not supplied.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential carve-out or special exemption was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. Broad eligibility distinctions central to the proposal are not treated as narrow targeted benefits. This conclusion does not extend to other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Mar 18, 2025. How PlainBill uses AI