To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require dependency as a condition of a stepchild's eligibility for child's insurance benefits, thereby preventing an insured individual's stepchildren from qualifying for such benefits on the insured individual's wage record (and thereby reducing the benefits of the insured individual's natural children) if the stepchildren are being supported by a natural parent, and to provide for termination of an individual's child's insurance benefits, based on the work record of a stepparent, upon the remarriage of the child's natural parent after such natural parent's divorce from such stepparent.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 18, 1993

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate as a basis of a stepchild's eligibility for child's insurance benefits the fact that such child is living with his or her stepfather or stepmother. (Continues the requirement that the child receive at least half of his or her support from the stepparent.) Provides for termination of a child's insurance benefits based on the work record of a stepparent upon the remarriage of the child's natural parent after divorce from such stepparent. Sets forth circumstances in the case of existing entitlements where a child shall be deemed as not dependent on the stepparent (hence ineligible for insurance benefits).

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Jacobs, Andrew, Jr. [D-IN-10] · D–IN

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 25, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Feb 18, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 18, 1993
Introduced in House
Feb 18, 1993
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 18, 1993 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.980 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.980, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require dependency as a condition of a stepchild's eligibility for child's insurance benefits, thereby preventing an insured individual's stepchildren from qualifying for such benefits on the insured individual's wage record (and thereby reducing the benefits of the insured individual's natural children) if the stepchildren are being supported by a natural parent, and to provide for termination of an individual's child's insurance benefits, based on the work record of a stepparent, upon the remarriage of the child's natural parent after such natural parent's divorce from such stepparent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/980

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr980/BILLS-103hr980ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.980 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.980 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.980, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require dependency as a condition of a stepchild's eligibility for child's insurance benefits, thereby preventing an insured individual's stepchildren from qualifying for such benefits on the insured individual's wage record (and thereby reducing the benefits of the insured individual's natural children) if the stepchildren are being supported by a natural parent, and to provide for termination of an individual's child's insurance benefits, based on the work record of a stepparent, upon the remarriage of the child's natural parent after such natural parent's divorce from such stepparent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/980

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr980/BILLS-103hr980ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.980 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.980 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.980, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require dependency as a condition of a stepchild's eligibility for child's insurance benefits, thereby preventing an insured individual's stepchildren from qualifying for such benefits on the insured individual's wage record (and thereby reducing the benefits of the insured individual's natural children) if the stepchildren are being supported by a natural parent, and to provide for termination of an individual's child's insurance benefits, based on the work record of a stepparent, upon the remarriage of the child's natural parent after such natural parent's divorce from such stepparent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/980

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr980/BILLS-103hr980ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.980 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.980 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.980, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require dependency as a condition of a stepchild's eligibility for child's insurance benefits, thereby preventing an insured individual's stepchildren from qualifying for such benefits on the insured individual's wage record (and thereby reducing the benefits of the insured individual's natural children) if the stepchildren are being supported by a natural parent, and to provide for termination of an individual's child's insurance benefits, based on the work record of a stepparent, upon the remarriage of the child's natural parent after such natural parent's divorce from such stepparent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/980

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr980/BILLS-103hr980ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.980 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.