The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would provide much-needed retirement protection in the form of a credit under Social Security for individuals who leave the workforce to care for a loved one. The bill would allow caregivers who engage in at least 80 hours or more a month caring for a dependent relative under the age of 12 or a chronically dependent individual the ability to receive this credit. The credit would be available for up to 60 eligible months of caregiving. Providing credits under Social Security will offer some retirement security for the 53 million caregivers in the nation, 10 percent of whom have had to give up work entirely or retire early to fulfill their caregiving responsibilities.
PVA Position:
Congress must pass the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act (H.R. 3729/S. 1211), which would provide credits under Social Security to ensure that caregivers are not penalized in retirement for taking time out of the workforce to perform caregiving duties.