September 16, 2026
Ms. Davids of Kansas (for herself and Mr. Evans of Colorado) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To modernize the application process for survivors insurance benefits under section 202 of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Survivor Benefits Application Modernization Act
.
Sec. 2. Modernization of application process for survivors insurance benefits
(a) Self-Schedule option
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security (in this Act referred to as Commissioner
) shall establish an online portal for individuals filing an application for benefits under subsections (d) through (h) of section 202 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) to schedule appointments related to such applications.
(b) Online application
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall develop a method for individuals to file an application for the benefits described in subsection (a) through the online portal described in such subsection.
Sec. 3. Report
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall submit to Congress a report on the development and implementation of the online portal described in section 2, including—
(1)
any increase or decrease in the number of applications for benefits under subsections (d) through (h) of section 202 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) received and processed by the Social Security Administration since the date of implementation of such online portal;
(2)
the costs or savings attributed to implementation of such online portal; and
(3)
any increase or decrease in the number of fraudulent applications for such benefits since the date of implementation of such online portal.
Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.