Washington D.C. – Senator Chris Coons, September 10, 2024
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) introduced the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act to protect the Social Security benefits of Americans who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. In addition to Senators Coons and Cassidy, this legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
“Americans who have been wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad face far too many financial hurdles when they come home – some immediate, and some they won’t feel until they reach retirement age,” said Senator Coons. “Americans like Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan shouldn’t have to suffer permanently reduced Social Security benefits because they had little or no income during their years in captivity. The Retirement Security for American Hostages Act is a crucial step we can take to support these Americans who have been through unimaginable hardship.”
“Americans held hostage should not lose Social Security benefits,” said Senator Cassidy. “This is a small thing compared to losing freedom, but sometimes small things make a difference.”
“When Americans who were wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad are finally brought home, we must do everything we can to support them,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m joining my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Retirement Security for American Hostages Act to ensure Americans who were held captive aren’t penalized when they collect Social Security.”
“When an American hostage is finally returned home from their unjust detention, they should not be forced to face undue financial stress as a result of their unavoidable time lost in the workforce,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that freed Americans, such as the recently released Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, are not left in permanent financial distress as a result of their undeserved time in bondage.”
“Americans who were held hostage shouldn’t be hurt by a retirement system that doesn’t account for the injustice and hardship they faced,” said Senator Wyden. “This bipartisan bill will ensure that people who were wrongfully detained overseas are not penalized after they make it home. They deserve to live freely without being deprived of their earned Social Security benefits.”
On August 1, several Americans were released from Russian detention as part of a historic prisoner exchange. These individuals now face several financial obstacles resulting from their captivity, including diminished Social Security benefits when they reach retirement. Because they may not have received a paycheck or paid payroll taxes while in captivity, their Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), which determines their Social Security benefit upon retirement, may have diminished by a meaningful amount.
The Retirement Security for American Hostages Act would amend the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) calculation of Social Security benefits for individuals identified as wrongful detainees by the U.S. Department of State and individuals identified as hostages by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell. The bill would require SSA to assume “deemed wages” equal to the national average for each month a former hostage or detainee was detained when calculating their AIME.
