On April 14, a group of bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced two bills aimed at helping family caregivers prepare for retirement. Cosponsored by Sens. Susan Collins and Mark Warner and Reps. Maria Salazar and Brittany Petterson, the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act of 2026 (S. 4291 / H.R. 8273) allows family caregivers additional years of eligibility for the highest catch-up contribution levels in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs, with qualifying caregivers eligible for up to five additional years of maximum catch-up contributions. Under current law, catch-up contributions allow individuals over age 50 to contribute above the standard annual limit, with even higher limits available for those aged 60-63. The legislation grants similar allowances to family caregivers.
Meanwhile, the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act of 2026 (S. 4292 / H.R. 8274) addresses financial challenges faced by individuals who leave the workforce to care for loved ones, often at the expense of their own long-term financial security. The act allows qualified family caregivers to contribute up to $7,000 to a Roth IRA even if their wages fall beneath that amount while caring for a loved one.
Prospects: Despite bipartisan support and strong industry backing to help the millions of family caregivers in the U.S., the broader political climate poses a challenge. Congress’s attention in 2026 is consumed by other priorities, and the upcoming elections in November leave little space to consider other legislation. Similar bills introduced to help family caregivers, such as the Credit for Caring Act and the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act, both of which are supported by NAIFA, have not received much attention since they were introduced in 2025.
NAIFA Staff Contact: Jayne Fitzgerald – Director – Government Relations, at jfitzgerald@naifa.org.