Increase Social Security benefits by about $65 per month, adopt more accurate cost-of-living adjustments, and remove the wage cap to strengthen solvency.

That’s why I’ve introduced legislation that would both increase Social Security benefits and strengthen the financial stability of the program for years. This legislation would increase benefits by about $65 per month, make cost-­of-­living adjustments more accurate, and remove the wage cap so that wealthy Americans pay into the program the same way the rest of us do, extending the long-­term solvency of the Social Security program.

Schatz commits to strengthening Social Security through higher benefits, COLA changes, and removing the wage cap.

Candidate Q&A — U.S. Senate: Brian Schatz - Honolulu Civil Beat
primary · interview · model gpt-5.5

Expanding and enhancing Social Security benefits has been a priority for me since arriving in the Senate. Last year, I reintroduced the SAFE Social Security Act, which would increase benefits and make sure everyone pays into the system equally.

Schatz cited his SAFE Social Security Act as his proposal to expand benefits and equalize contributions into the system.

Candidate Q&A: U.S. Senate — Brian Schatz - Honolulu Civil Beat
primary · interview · model gpt-5.5

Spearheading the Harkin-Schatz bill to increase Social Security benefits by an average of $65 a month, and to secure Social Security for decades to come by requiring the wealthy to pay the same rate as the rest of us.

The campaign says Schatz is spearheading legislation to raise Social Security benefits and strengthen solvency by requiring higher earners to contribute at the same rate.

accomplishments.pdf
campaign · campaign_site · model gpt-5.5

Schatz's office said the bill would increase benefits by about $65 per month, use CPI-E for future COLAs, and phase out the taxable cap.

This official statement matches the promise's core elements and shows Schatz introduced a concrete bill, but it describes proposed legislation rather than an enacted change.

unresolved unknown A for effort

On 80th Anniversary of Social Security, Senator Schatz Introduces Legislation to Expand Social Security
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

Congress.gov lists Sen. Schatz as sponsor of S.1940; the bill's status is Introduced and latest action was referral to Senate Finance.

The 2015 bill embodied the promised benefit, COLA, and taxable-wage changes, but it did not advance beyond introduction/referral before the 114th Congress ended.

never unknown A for effort

S.1940 - Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act of 2015
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

Congress.gov lists S.5017 as sponsored by Sen. Schatz, introduced on 09/11/2024, with status Introduced and referral to Senate Finance.

Schatz reintroduced the package in a later Congress, showing continued effort, but the 118th Congress bill still did not become law.

never unknown A for effort

S.5017 - Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act of 2024
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

Congress.gov lists S.3462 as sponsored by Sen. Schatz; as of its latest action, it was read twice and referred to Senate Finance.

The latest version before 2026-04-27 remained at the introduced/referral stage, so the promised policy package had not been enacted as of the assessment date.

never unknown A for effort

S.3462 - Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act of 2025
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

SSA says the 2026 COLA is based on CPI-W and lists Social Security maximum taxable earnings at $184,500 for 2026.

Current SSA implementation still uses CPI-W and retains an OASDI taxable maximum, showing the CPI-E and wage-cap-removal portions were not delivered.

never unknown

2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%