# What This Bill Does

This bill requires federal agencies that distribute benefits to people aged 95 and older to double-check every six months that these individuals still qualify for the money they're receiving. Think of it as a verification system—the government wants to make sure that seniors who are 95 or older haven't become ineligible for benefits like Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, or other federal assistance programs they might be receiving.

The bill doesn't specify exactly what "eligibility" means or what circumstances would disqualify someone, but it's essentially asking agencies to confirm that the basic requirements for receiving these benefits are still being met. For example, an agency might verify that a person is still alive, still a U.S. citizen, or still meets income requirements if those apply to their particular benefit. Each federal department that hands out benefits gets to decide how to conduct these checks and can create their own rules for how to do it.

This requirement takes effect on December 31, 2024, so agencies will have time to set up their verification systems before they need to start doing these checks. For most seniors receiving federal benefits, this likely means they might receive occasional requests from the government asking them to confirm their information or provide documentation proving they still qualify. While the bill doesn't explicitly address what happens if someone fails a verification check, the underlying concern appears to be preventing improper payments to people who may no longer be eligible—whether due to death, changes in circumstances, or other reasons.

To direct Federal departments and agencies to verify eligibility for Federal benefits for individuals 95 years of age or older, and for other purposes.

Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

 <p>This bill requires departments or agencies that provide federal benefits to verify the eligibility of any beneficiary age 95 or older. This must occur on a semiannual basis.</p>