New Bill Would Allow Some Americans to Opt Back Into Social Security [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Dec 23, 2025 at 03:53 PM EST


A recently proposed law would allow some Americans to opt back into Social Security after originally declining to take part in the social safety net program. Clergy members routinely choose not to take part in Social Security or Medicare programs and have historically been unable to undo this decision even years later. However, a new bill seeks to change this.

Why It Matters

More than 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits monthly, and this often is a key source of income to help keep them afloat during retirement or as they face disability. Clergy members being able to opt back into the program could provide massive benefits to the group, but could also have ramifications for the impending funding gap the SSA will hit as early as the start of the 2030s.

What To Know

The Clergy Act, originally introduced in January of this year, would establish a two-year window for certain members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners to revoke their exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes on ministerial earnings.

Under the current law, those who object to participation in public insurance programs on religious grounds can apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an irrevocable exemption and will not receive Social Security or Medicare benefits in retirement unless they have qualifying credits from other employment.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/new-bill-would-allow-some-americans-to-opt-back-into-social-security-11263006