H.R. 6543 · 119th Congress
Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act
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R
ThompsonSponsor2 cosponsors · 2 D
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
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.
What it does: CRS 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 the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act
Latest action (Dec 9, 2025): Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Policy area: Social Welfare · Origin: House · Introduced: Dec 9, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.