H.R. 6543 Introduced Social Welfare

Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act

To provide for the exemption of certain earnings from the retirement earnings test, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] Introduced December 9, 2025 Cosponsors 2 (2 D) Latest action December 9, 2025

Summary

Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act
This bill exempts from the Social Security Retirement Earnings Test (RET) wages earned through work as a health care professional or first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the RET, benefits are reduced for beneficiaries who are younger than full retirement age if they earn wages in excess of a specified annual limit. 
Further, the Social Security Administration may issue waivers to individuals employed as health care professionals or first responders during a declared public health emergency in which there is a shortage of health care workers. Wages earned by individuals granted waivers during a public health emergency are exempt from the RET. 

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Dec 9, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
  2. Dec 9, 2025 Introduced in House

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