Good news for Social Security recipients: Congress is working on the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, which could add an additional $200 to your monthly checks for the first six months of 2026. This would be in addition to the 2.8 percent cost-of-living increase that is also expected to be reflected in 2026 Social Security checks. Below, we share everything you need to know about the act, including who qualifies for it and whether there are other ways to get more money from Social Security.
What to know about the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act
The Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act was introduced to the Senate at the end of October and was heavily pushed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who called it “an emergency lifeline for seniors” in a statement.
“While Donald Trump sends $40 billion to Argentina, I’m proposing sending American seniors on Social Security an extra $200 a month to offset higher prices,” Warren’s statement continued. “The cost of everything from coffee to beef to healthcare is up, in large part due Trump’s chaotic tariffs, and Democrats are fighting to deliver some financial relief and lower costs for Americans.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
The act proposes giving people on Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) railroad retirement benefits and veterans disability compensation or pension benefits an additional $200 in their monthly payments. If approved, this would begin on January 1, 2026 and end on June 30, 2026. In the draft of the bill, it’s made clear that there will be no double payments available. This means that even if someone gets Social Security and SSI payments for example, they would only be receiving one extra check a month.
Douglas Rissing/Getty
“No one has a harder time dealing with rising costs than seniors who are living on a fixed income,” Arizona Senator Mark Kelly said in a statement. “Trump’s tariffs are driving up the price of groceries and almost everything else and Social Security benefits just aren’t keeping up. Putting extra money in seniors’ pockets will help them make ends meet while we fight to lower costs for American seniors and families.”
As of publication, the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act is still with the Senate, and if it’s approved there, it will move to the House of Representatives for approval before it goes to President Trump, who will either sign it into law or reject it altogether.
“Americans deserve to retire with dignity, not spend their golden years just trying to get by,” New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement. “Our seniors have worked hard their entire lives and paid into Social Security, but benefits simply haven’t kept pace with rising costs. This legislation would help ensure that older Americans don’t have to choose between paying for medication and buying groceries by putting more money back into their pockets. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I’m committed to passing this critical bill and ensuring our seniors can age with comfort and security.”
How to get more money from Social Security
Since the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act has yet to be approved, seniors everywhere are still looking for ways to make more money from Social Security to try and make ends meet.
krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty
To add more money to your monthly check, most experts recommend making sure you are getting the most out of your survivor and spousal benefits.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“Spousal benefits can make sense if your own retirement benefit is lower than what you’d receive based on your spouse’s record,” explains Michael Liner, founder and head disability attorney at Liner Legal. “They’re especially valuable for people who spent time out of the workforce or had lower lifetime earnings.”
“A common misconception is that if one spouse claims a spousal benefit, it reduces the benefit the working spouse receives. That’s not true. benefits are separate entitlements—your spouse’s check is not cut or reduced when you claim based on their record.”
Other ways to get more money from Social Security include working while claiming the benefits. And if you can do it, delaying benefits by a couple of years can make a huge difference.
“The later you wait to claim your benefits after the time at which you have a full retirement age (typically 66 or 67, depending on your year of birth), the larger your benefits will be at age 70. This can translate to thousands of dollars of annual income in your later years,” Bhavin Swadas, a real estate and finance expert with Mine My Deal says. “Delaying benefits may save a lot for the beneficiaries who have a longer lifespan or those who work past the age of retirement.”
For more on Social Security, keep scrolling!
Social Security Surprises: 4 Expert Tips to Maximize Your Benefits Before It’s Too Late
Can I Work and Collect Social Security? Expert Advice on Receiving Benefits before Retirement
Experts Share the Biggest Social Security Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them