The House of Representatives has passed two bills introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee and Vice Chairman of the Budget Committee. The legislation, known as the Claiming Age Clarity Act (H.R. 5284) and the Social Security Child Protection Act (H.R. 5348), aims to improve the Social Security Administration’s processes for seniors and families.
“This legislation ensures the Social Security Administration (SSA) works better and more efficiently for American seniors and families,” said Rep. Smucker. “The Claiming Age Clarity Act improves outdated language to help seniors understand and maximize their retirement benefits, and the Child Protection Act cuts bureaucratic deadlock to better assist families when a child is at risk for fraud when the Social Security number is lost or stolen in the mail.”
“Helping protect children from identity fraud and assisting seniors in receiving the benefits they rightfully deserve is something all of Washington should agree with, and I am thankful that my House colleagues supported these straightforward solutions.”
The Claiming Age Clarity Act would update terminology used by the SSA so that seniors can more easily understand when to claim retirement benefits. Under this bill, “Early Eligibility Age” would be renamed “Minimum Benefit Age” (age 62), “Full Retirement Age” would become “Standard Benefit Age” (age 66-67 depending on birth year), and “Delayed Retirement Age” would be called “Maximum Benefit Age” (age 70).
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) commented, “Millions of Americans are counting on their hard-earned Social Security benefits to help ensure they have the financial resources they need in retirement. Unfortunately, under current practice, many Americans could end up forgoing some of those resources if they are unable to decipher the Social Security Administration’s misleading or confusing terminology when it comes to deciding when to begin claiming benefits. Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Smucker, Congress is advancing a solution that will bring needed simplicity to the language used by the Social Security Administration and help ease the stress of retirement planning.”
Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08) co-sponsored this bill, while Senators Bill Cassidy, Christopher Coons, Susan Collins, and Tim Kaine have introduced similar legislation in the Senate. The measure has received endorsements from AARP, BPC Action, and AMAC Action.
The second piece of legislation passed is the Social Security Child Protection Act. This bill requires that a new Social Security number be issued by SSA if a card for a child under age 14 is lost or stolen in transit.
“A single act of identity theft can lead to a lifetime of financial harm,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “Thanks to Representative Smucker’s leadership, the Social Security Child Protection Act of 2025 will ensure that families don’t have to wait and can immediately secure a new Social Security number if their child’s card is compromised, addressing a problem in government that has left too many families without recourse.”
Rep. Lloyd Smucker has represented Pennsylvania’s 11th district in Congress since 2017 after replacing Joe Pitts. Before his tenure in Congress, he served in Pennsylvania’s state senate from 2009 until 2016. Born in Lancaster County in 1964, Smucker continues to reside there.
