Social Security

The Subcommittee on Social Security is a specialized panel within the House Committee on Ways and Means that focuses on a critical slice of the larger committee's jurisdiction. While the full Ways and Means Committee handles all federal tax and spending legislation, this subcommittee narrows its focus to the Social Security system and related programs. The subcommittee prepares the ground for legislation by holding initial hearings and reviewing bills before they can advance to the full committee for consideration.

The subcommittee's jurisdiction covers the Federal Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance System, the Railroad Retirement System, and employment taxes and trust fund operations relating to those systems. More specifically, it handles bills and matters involving Title II of the Social Security Act and Chapter 22 of the Internal Revenue Code, which governs the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, as well as procedural and administrative provisions affecting these programs.

The subcommittee is chaired by Ron Estes (R-KS) with John B. Larson (D-CT) serving as Ranking Member. Larson brings extensive background in Social Security policy and is the former chairman of the subcommittee. The panel consists of 13 members total, with eight Republicans and five Democrats.

Recent activity includes joint hearings with the Work and Welfare Subcommittee on topics such as removing barriers to work for individuals with disabilities and hearings with the Social Security Commissioner on trust fund financing and program administration. The subcommittee has also examined issues including the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which affect government workers' benefits, as well as improper payments and program integrity matters.