Larson, DeLauro, Evans, Frankel to Introduce ‘Claws Off Social Security’ Act Protecting Seniors from Financial Hardship for Accidental Overpayments

East Hartford, CT – Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03), and Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) announced they will introduce the“Claws Off Social Security” Act. 

The Trump Administration’s decision to ‘claw back’ 100% of seniors’ checks to recover an accidental Social Security overpayment will mean many could lose their entire monthly benefit through no fault of their own. The “Claws Off Social Security” Act will reinstate the Biden Administration’s default overpayment withholding rate to protect struggling seniors from financial hardship. 

“Elon Musk and Donald Trump will not lose a minute of sleep over their new policy that will mean seniors may lose their entire Social Security check through no fault of their own,” said Larson. “Social Security is an earned benefit that our seniors rely on to put food on the table, afford their medications, and keep a roof over their heads. Make no mistake about it – these ‘claw backs’ are about ripping checks out of seniors’ hands to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Our Claws Off Social Security Act is a common-sense bill to restore the Social Security Administration’s policy protecting beneficiaries from being excessively penalized for accidental overpayments. Congress must act to defend our seniors’ hard-earned benefits from this cruel policy.” 

“If the government makes a mistake & overpays your monthly Social Security, the government can freeze your benefits,” said DeLauro. “I led the charge to fix overpayment errors without complete clawbacks, but now, President Trump is moving policies that will rollback that progress while driving up costs for seniors. Americans rely on these benefits—they shouldn’t be punished for government errors.” 

“Under a new Trump administration policy, seniors who received an overpayment because of someone else’s mistake are seeing up to their entire checks withheld, forcing some to choose between basics like food, rent and medicine. Our bill would cap these ‘clawbacks’ at a reasonable 10 percent of monthly benefits, restoring a policy the Biden administration put in place last year,” said Evans. “I’m proud to have three Social Security champions -- Representatives John Larson, Rosa DeLauro and Lois Frankel – as co-lead sponsors on this bill. We are telling the Trump administration ‘Claws Off’ people’s earned benefits!” 

“For so many seniors, their Social Security check isn’t extra – it’s everything,” said Frankel. “It puts food on the table, keeps the lights on, and pays for the medicine they need. But under Donald Trump’s cruel new rule, seniors who’ve done nothing wrong could suddenly lose all of their income overnight – forcing them to go months or even years without a dime to live on. That’s just wrong. Our bill will restore fairness and common sense by capping repayments at 10 percent, just like it was under President Biden – because no senior should be punished into poverty for a government mistake.” 

 The "Claws Off Social Security" Act would: 

Larson, DeLauro, Evans, and Frankel are joined as original cosponsors by: Reps. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Danny Davis (IL-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Paul Tonko (NY-20). 

Organizations endorsing the bill include the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Justice in Aging, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Social Security Works.