Key Facts

• The Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act is a Republican-backed bill introduced by Representative Greg Murphy and supported by Senator Rick Scott.
• The bill would repeal the Social Security "retirement earnings test" that currently reduces benefits if early claimants earn above a certain amount.
• Under current law, workers who claim benefits before full retirement age lose $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above $24,480 in 2026.
• Benefits withheld under this test are later credited back after reaching full retirement age.
• The proposal seeks to remove this penalty so seniors can work and earn without benefit reductions.
• Supporters say it will help seniors who work out of necessity or want to keep earning without losing benefits.
• Critics worry the change could increase costs and strain the long-term finances of the Social Security Trust Fund.
• The repeal would mainly help working seniors in physically demanding jobs, small business owners, and those supplementing income due to higher living costs.