Social Security Caregiver Credit (HR8490)
Current understanding
HR8490, the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026, proposes establishing a Social Security credit for unpaid caregivers, potentially allowing time spent providing care to count toward Social Security earnings records. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means and has not advanced further. Beneficiaries would be individuals performing unpaid caregiving work; the fiscal impact and eligibility criteria remain to be scored.
Evidence log
- 2026-02-20 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a credit for adult child caregivers.: cross-connection with adult-child-caregiver-tax-credit: Parallel caregiver-support proposals: HR7610 uses the income tax code while HR8490 uses Social Security earnings credits. (novelty: 3)