H.R. 6543 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Ways and Means, Dec 9, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects benefits for pandemic healthcare workers
The bill creates an exemption to Social Security's Retirement Earnings Test, which normally reduces benefits for people under full retirement age if they earn too much money. Healthcare professionals and first responders who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic would be exempted from this rule, meaning their benefits wouldn't be reduced based on their wages. The bill also allows Social Security to waive this earnings test for healthcare workers and first responders during future declared public health emergencies where there's a shortage of workers.
How it affects you
If you're a healthcare worker or first responder who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic and are receiving Social Security benefits before full retirement age, this bill would let you keep your full benefits even if you earn wages that would normally cause a reduction. This could matter if you're drawing benefits while continuing to work in healthcare or as a first responder.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Dec 9, 2025)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 6543
A BILL
Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act
Sponsor: Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15) · Introduced Dec 9, 2025 · Social Welfare · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 9, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.”