Congress Passes Social Security Claiming Act

On September 30, the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, HR 5284, the Claiming Age Clarity Act, a bill that re-labels the times at which individuals can claim their Social Security benefits. Because the House passed the bill in December, 2025 (by voice vote), it is now on its way to President Trump to be signed into law.

The bill directs the Social Security Administration to update the official names of three key Social Security triggers:

• What is currently the early retirement/age 62 trigger is renamed to “Minimum Monthly Benefit Age
• What is currently called the age 65-67 full retirement age is renamed to Standard Monthly Benefit Age
• What is currently called the age 70 delayed retirement credit is renamed to Maximum Monthly Benefit Age

The bill does not change actual retirement eligibility ages or alter benefit calculation formulas.

Prospects: Bill supporters say the renaming will clear up some confusion about what benefits are available to Social Security recipients at what age.

NAIFA Staff Contact: Jayne Fitzgerald – Director – Government Relations, at jfitzgerald@naifa.org