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HR 2739 98th Congress House Social Welfare Divorce Old age, survivors and disability insurance Social security eligibility

A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a husband and wife during the period of their marriage shall be divided equally and shared between them…

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A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a husband and wife during the period of their marriage shall be divided equally and shared between them for benefit purposes if they become divorced and either of them so elects.

Introduced: April 26, 1983 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 98th Congress ended
It never became law before the 98th Congress (1983–1984) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 28, 1983
Referred to Subcommittee on Social Security.
Apr 26, 1983
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Apr 26, 1983
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a married couple which are attributable to the period of their marriage shall be shared equally between them for purposes of determining the eligibility for and amount of old-age or disability insurance benefits to which each spouse is or may be come separately entitled if: (1) their marriage lasted at least three years; (2) they are divorced; and (3) either of them elects to have such combined earnings so shared.

Makes this Act inapplicable to a surviving divorced spouse if it would result in a reduction in OASDI benefits.

What's happening now April 28, 1983

Referred to Subcommittee on Social Security.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Oct 20, 1983
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Apr 26, 1983
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2739: A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a husband and wife during the period of their marriage shall be divided equally and shared between them for benefit purposes if they become divorced and either of them so elects.. 98th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2739/
MLA
"H.R. 2739: A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a husband and wife during the period of their marriage shall be divided equally and shared between them for benefit purposes if they become divorced and either of them so elects.." 98th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2739/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2739, 98th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2739/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2739: A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a husband and wife during the period of their marriage shall be divided equally and shared between them for benefit purposes if they become divorced and either of them so elects.](https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2739/)
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