Hostages and Wrongfully Detained Americans Get Social Security Boost: New Bill Credits Lost Time

The "Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025" aims to give a financial leg-up to U.S. nationals who've been held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. It does this by amending the Social Security Act, essentially making sure these individuals don't lose out on retirement benefits because they were captive.

Counting Captivity: How It Works

This bill introduces the concept of "deemed wages." For every month a U.S. national is held captive (a "qualifying month"), the Social Security Administration will pretend they earned 1/12 of the national average wage for that period. This "pretend" income counts towards their Social Security benefits. So, if someone was held for two years, that's 24 months of "deemed wages" added to their earnings record. This can make a real difference in their retirement payments later on.

Example: Imagine a journalist, captured while reporting overseas, is held for three years. Under this bill, they'd get credit for 36 months of average U.S. wages, even though they weren't working. This helps offset the financial hit of those lost years.

The bill uses very specific definitions. A "qualifying individual" is a U.S. national who was either (1) unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad (as determined under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act) or (2) taken hostage abroad (as determined by the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell). The relevant period of detention or hostage-taking must be confirmed by the appropriate federal agency. (SEC. 2)

Making It Real: The 24-Month Countdown

The bill doesn't kick in immediately. It takes effect 24 months after it's enacted. (SEC. 2) This gives the Social Security Administration time to set up the necessary procedures. Within one year of enactment, the Commissioner of Social Security has to issue regulations, including how people will apply and what kind of proof they'll need from federal agencies to confirm their situation. (SEC. 2) It's not automatic; individuals will need to apply and provide documentation to get these "deemed wages" added to their record.

The Bottom Line

This bill is a targeted effort to support Americans who've gone through the ordeal of being held captive abroad. It acknowledges that their time in captivity shouldn't penalize their future retirement security. While there's a two-year delay before it takes effect, and a process to apply, it's a concrete step toward recognizing and addressing the financial impact of these situations. This legislation offers a lifeline, ensuring that those who have endured such hardship are not further penalized financially upon their return. It's a recognition that while they were held captive, they weren't able to contribute to their future – and this bill helps to correct that.