HR 5771119th CongressIn Committee

Reliable Social Security Service for Seniors Act

Introduced: Oct 17, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-Texas)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The bill, titled the Reliable Social Security Service for Seniors Act, would require the Commissioner of Social Security to ensure that every Social Security Administration (SSA) office is fully staffed with employees who answer telephone calls during standard business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays). The amendment would take effect January 1, 2027. While the title references state agencies that make disability determinations, the enacted text provided only specifies the SSA offices and does not establish new requirements for state disability determination agencies. If enacted as written, the primary impact would be to improve live telephone access to SSA offices for beneficiaries and applicants, potentially reducing wait times and increasing responsiveness.

Key Points

1Adds a new requirement (section 205(v)) obligating the SSA to be fully staffed to answer telephone calls during standard business hours (8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. local time, Mon-Fri, excluding Federal holidays).
2Effective date set for January 1, 2027.
3The obligation falls on the SSA Commissioner to ensure sufficient staff are available to answer calls.
4The text of the bill as provided focuses on SSA offices; it does not clearly impose the same requirement on state agencies that make disability determinations, despite the title’s broad phrasing.
5The bill’s stated purpose is to improve customer service and access, but it would require additional staffing and likely increased funding to meet the new standard.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: SSA beneficiaries, including seniors and individuals seeking disability benefits, who would gain improved access to live phone assistance during business hours.Secondary group/area affected: SSA operations and staffing requirements; SSA budget and resource planning to hire and train additional telephone staff; potential effects on call wait times and service levels.Additional impacts: State disability determination agencies (if interpreted as requiring the same standard) may face calls for comparable staffing, potentially affecting intergovernmental coordination and funding; broader fiscal implications for federal and state budgets; potential improvements in access to information and guidance for applicants, but also the need for ongoing workload management and performance monitoring to ensure the contact centers meet the new hours consistently.

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