# Plain Language Summary: SWIFT Act (S. 3255)

## What This Bill Does

The Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment Act of 2025 (SWIFT Act) makes changes to Social Security survivor benefits for disabled widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses. Currently, these individuals must be at least 50 years old to receive full survivor benefits if they are disabled. This bill removes that age requirement, allowing disabled surviving spouses to receive full benefits at any age, as long as they meet the disability requirement.

## Who Benefits

This bill primarily helps:
- **Disabled widows and widowers** of any age whose spouse was covered by Social Security
- **Surviving divorced spouses** (widows and widowers) who are disabled, regardless of age
- These individuals would receive unreduced (full) benefits rather than reduced benefits

The bill also eliminates penalties (benefit reductions) that currently apply when disabled surviving spouses claim benefits before retirement age.

## Key Changes

The main provisions include:
- **Removes the age 50-60 requirement** for disabled widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses to receive full benefits
- **Eliminates benefit reductions** for disabled survivors claiming benefits early
- **Simplifies marriage rules** so that remarriage after becoming eligible doesn't affect benefits
- **Makes technical updates** to related federal retirement programs (Railroad Retirement and Federal Employees' Retirement System) to align with these changes

The bill was introduced by Senator Blumenthal and four co-sponsors and is currently under review by the Senate Finance Committee.