Britt celebrates President Trump's signing of the Clergy Act
The bipartisan law gives clergy who opted out of Social Security a limited chance to restore retirement coverage.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, on Tuesday celebrated President Donald Trump’s signing of the Clergy Act, legislation she ushered unanimously through the Senate alongside Senator Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, earlier this month. Congressman Vince Fong, R-California, led the bill in the House, which passed it earlier this year.
“I’m grateful to President Trump for signing the Clergy Act into law today and for standing with the faith leaders who serve our communities daily. Pastors, priests, and ministers are pillars of their communities for a reason, and they deserve the chance to build a secure retirement for themselves and their families. Many made this decision at the very start of their ministry without fully understanding what it would mean down the road, and I’m thrilled they will now have the chance to re-enroll in these important benefits.
“I’m thankful for Senator Hassan’s partnership and for Congressman Vince Fong’s leadership in the House in getting this commonsense, bipartisan bill to the President’s desk and now enacted,” Britt said.
Under current law, certain clergy members may make a one-time, irreversible decision to exempt their ministerial earnings from self-employment taxes, meaning they do not earn Social Security or Medicare benefits on that income. The Clergy Act gives clergy who opted out a time-limited window to reenroll in Social Security coverage. Consistent with current eligibility requirements, those who opt back in will generally need 40 Social Security credits, typically about 10 years of covered work, to qualify for retirement benefits. The law also requires the IRS to develop and submit to Congress a plan to notify clergy members of their eligibility to revoke their exemptions.
“Our faith leaders dedicate their lives to serving others and strengthening our communities,” Fong said. “The Clergy Act gives clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security the opportunity to re-enroll and secure their financial future. I’m proud this bipartisan legislation passed both chambers of Congress and was signed into law by President Trump. Thank you to Senator Britt for her partnership and to President Trump for his leadership and commitment to our faith community. Those who spend their lives caring for others deserve the opportunity to plan for their own future. This law is an important step toward making that happen.”
Congress has given clergy this opportunity several times before, including in 1977, 1986 and, most recently, in 1999 through the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act.
To view the bill text, visit here.
