A group of Senate Democrats in November introduced the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, in an effort to expand Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits by $200 per month for six months.
The Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act would provide relief to Americans living on a fixed income by:
• Providing a $200 per month emergency increase to Social Security checks until July 2026.
• Support all Title II Social Security beneficiaries, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries, Railroad Retirement beneficiaries, veteran disability compensation, and veteran pension benefit annuitants.
The bill was introduced by Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who serves on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Armed Services, and Finance, as well as the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
Bill co-sponsors include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
In a statement, Senate Democrats lambasted President Donald Trump for instilling additional tariff rates on imports, which in turn drove up the cost-of-living for Americans, they say.
“Trump campaigned on lowering costs, but all he has done is raise tariffs, slash healthcare benefits, and sabotage energy projects, increasing prices on everything from groceries to electricity,” Sen. Schumer said at the time. “Seniors face difficult decisions as they see their bank accounts shrinking and the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is simply not reflective of the current reality. I urge Republicans to join with us to help offset the cost of Trump’s inflationary trade war and give seniors the money they deserve.”