Chairman Rick Scott last week introduced a new bill that would allow older Americans to work while continuing to receive Social Security benefits.
The Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act would repeal the Retirement Earnings Test (RET) under the Social Security Act, a test that reduces Social Security benefits as savers continue to work into their retirement years.
“This bill will encourage workforce participation among aging Americans and provide greater financial flexibility in retirement so they can enjoy their golden years to the fullest,” read a statement by the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging.
Senator Tommy Tuberville is a cosponsor of the bill in the Senate, while Congressman Greg Murphy is leading the legislation in the House of Representatives.
The bill was introduced during a hearing titled, “Experience Matters: Seniors and the Workforce,” which explored how aging communities across the U.S. contribute to the economy, whether through work, caregiving, volunteer service, and other pursuits.
The hearing also emphasized the struggles retirees face in returning to part- or full-time work and touched on how the RET impacts retirees financially.
“This test punishes workers between the ages of 62-66 who start to claim their benefits – benefits they are entitled to and have earned. It essentially takes away $1 of their benefits for every $2 in benefits they earn once their income hits $24,000 a year,” Chairman Scott said during the hearing.
Even outside of RET, Chairman Scott said that retirees “still face mountains of administrative red tape to get information on how when they retire impacts their benefits.” He added that along with the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act, he will cosponsor the Claiming Age Clarity Act, which wouldprovide straightforward and transparent information on retirement planning.
Witnesses in the hearing included Rachel Greszler, senior research fellow at Advancing American Freedom; Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); and Jason J. Fichtner, senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance.
It followed a December 2025 committee hearing that also highlighted the impacts of community work among older Americans.