Increased Social Security Benefits for Disabled Survivors and Caregivers.
The SWIFT Act significantly enhances financial support for disabled surviving spouses and divorced spouses by eliminating age restrictions and benefit reductions previously applied. It also raises the age limit for a child whose care qualifies a survivor for benefits from 16 to 18 (or 19 for students). Furthermore, the law introduces benefit increases for those who delay claiming and protects current beneficiaries from losing other federal aid due to increased Social Security income.
Key points
Disabled widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses can now claim full Social Security benefits at any age without benefit reduction.
The age limit for a child whose care qualifies a survivor for benefits is raised from 16 to 18 (or 19 if a full-time student).
Benefit increases resulting from this Act will not cause beneficiaries to lose eligibility for other federal or state assistance programs.
Mechanisms are introduced to increase benefits for widows and widowers who delay claiming past early retirement age.
Expired
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