Larson Opposes Surprise UI Bill, Introduced Amendment to Protect Social Security Beneficiaries

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against Republican legislation that would target innocent workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic by sending surprise bills for unemployment overpayments they received through no fault of their own. Larson introduced an amendment to protect Social Security beneficiaries from these surprise bills, but Republicans blocked it from coming to the House floor for a vote. Republicans blocked a similar amendment that would have extended protections to Social Security beneficiaries, veterans, and healthcare workers from being unexpectedly billed for the overpayments if it was not their fault. 

“I voted against this legislation because it would target innocent workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic, received unemployment payments, and used that money to pay their rent and buy their basic necessities,” said Larson. “These recipients had no idea their government mistakenly overpaid them, and now Republicans want to require states to target these workers for 10 years, demanding they repay funds they no longer have. I opposed this bill when it came before the Ways and Means Committee, and I am opposing it today because we should be lifting up our nation’s workforce as we recover from the pandemic, not sending them surprise bills.  

“My amendment would protect Social Security recipients from receiving these surprise bills and allows states to focus on real fraud instead,” Larson continued. “It is shameful that Republicans would not commit to protecting seniors and instead blocked this amendment from even coming to a vote. Many seniors live on a fixed income. Imagine the panic they will feel if they get a bill for an overpayment they received over five years ago. I support preventing fraud, but we also must ensure the attempts to prevent fraud do not punish people who are on fixed incomes and in this situation through no fault of their own.”

###