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Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to modify the 10-year marriage rule relating to spouses and surviving spouses insurance benefits in cases of domestic violence, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill would amend the Social Security Act to reduce the marriage duration requirement from 10 years to 5 years for divorced individuals who were victims of domestic violence during the marriage and who provide a court finding of that fact. The reduced requirement would apply to divorced spouses and surviving spouses seeking Social Security insurance benefits based on an ex-spouse's earnings record. Divorced individuals could qualify by submitting to the Social Security Administration a court finding that they experienced domestic violence as defined by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The amendments would take effect at least 18 months after enactment and would apply to monthly benefits beginning at that time.
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Sponsor (1)
Actions (2)
- Oct 6, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. · house
- Oct 6, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2025
Mrs. Sykes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to modify the 10-year marriage rule relating to spouses and surviving spouses insurance benefits in cases of domestic violence, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act”.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF 10-YEAR MARRIAGE RULE IN CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
(a) In General.—Section 216(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 416(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(9)(A) In the case of a divorced woman described in paragraph (1) or (2) or a divorced man described in paragraph (4) or (5) who provides to the Commissioner of Social Security a finding made by a court of law that the divorced woman or divorced man was the victim of domestic violence committed by the spouse during the course of the marriage, such paragraph as may be applicable with respect to such divorced woman or divorced man shall be applied for purposes of this title by substituting ‘5 years’ for ‘10 years’.
“(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term ‘domestic violence’ has the meaning given such term in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.”.
(b) Termination of Wife’s Insurance Benefits.—Section 202(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(5) In the case of any divorced wife who provides to the Commissioner of Social Security a finding made by a court of law that the divorced wife was the victim of domestic violence (as defined in section 216(d)(9)(B)) committed by the spouse during the course of the marriage, clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(G) shall be applied by substituting ‘5 years’ for ‘10 years’.”.
(c) Termination of Husband’s Insurance Benefits.—Section 202(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(5) In the case of any divorced husband who provides to the Commissioner of Social Security a finding made by a court of law that the divorced husband was the victim of domestic violence (as defined in section 216(d)(9)(B)) committed by the spouse, clause (ii) of paragraph
(1)(G) shall be applied by substituting ‘5 years’ for ‘10 years’.”.
(d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to monthly insurance benefits for months beginning at least 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. <all>
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