Davids, Evans Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Social Security Survivor Benefits for Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Gabe Evans (R-CO-08) introduced bipartisan legislation to streamline and modernize how surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents apply for Social Security survivor benefits. The bill would help families avoid long phone hold times and unnecessary in-person visits during a period of intense emotional and financial strain.

"When a family loses a parent, spouse, or breadwinner, the last thing they should have to deal with is a maze of administrative red tape just to access the benefits their loved one earned through a lifetime of hard work," said Davids. "My casework team will always help Kansans recover backlogged federal benefits — including Social Security — but families shouldn’t have to turn to their representatives’ offices just to get the benefits they’ve earned. This bipartisan bill would make it easier for families to get those benefits on their own, without having to navigate unnecessary hurdles during an already difficult time."

“When families experience the loss of a loved one, the last thing they should have to deal with is red tape and complications when accessing the benefits they are owed,” said Representative Gabe Evans (R-CO-08). “I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Survivor Benefits Applications Modernization Act to ensure grieving families have faster access to the resources and services they need during difficult times.”

Under current Social Security Act provisions, when a person passes away, their surviving family members — including young children, surviving spouses caring for children, and dependent parents — are eligible for survivor insurance benefits. However, unlike other federal programs that offer streamlined digital services, the Social Security Administration (SSA) process for survivor benefits still largely relies on manual scheduling and paper-based applications. This leads to extended processing delays, crowded field offices, and unnecessary stress for families facing sudden loss.

The bipartisan Survivor Benefits Application Modernization Act would fix that problem by requiring the Social Security Administration to:

• Establish an Online Self-Scheduling Portal: Within 180 days of enactment, the SSA Commissioner must launch an online system allowing applicants for survivor benefits to independently schedule appointments.
• Develop Online Application Filing: Within one year of enactment, the SSA must enable beneficiaries to complete and submit their survivor benefits applications directly through the secure online portal.
• Report on Efficiency and Integrity: Requires the SSA to submit a report to Congress within three years detailing application processing trends, administrative cost savings, and fraud and identity theft instances.

“New York Life supports the Survivor Benefits Application Modernization Act, which would enable grieving families to apply for Social Security survivor benefits online,” said Heather Nesle, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, New York Life. “As the nation’s largest corporate funder of childhood bereavement causes, the New York Life Foundation has long championed efforts that help grieving families access the support they need. We thank Representatives Davids and Evans for leading the effort to help more children access the financial support they are entitled to during an incredibly difficult time.”

Davids’ dedicated casework team works directly with constituents across Kansas' Third District to resolve delays and recover earned federal benefits. Davids’ office has assisted thousands of Kansans in navigating federal agencies, including backlogged Social Security payments. By modernizing SSA systems at the systemic level, this legislation aims to prevent administrative bottlenecks before they happen, making it faster and easier for families across the country to receive the support they are owed.