On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Senate passed the Clergy Act (H.R. 227) by unanimous consent and sent the bill to President Trump’s desk for his signature. The bill passed the House of Representatives in April with a bipartisan vote of 350 to 5. This bill would let ministers who once exempted themselves from Social Security and Medicare revoke that exemption during a one-time window and begin paying in again, beginning in 2029.

This is an opportunity for those pastors and missionaries who previously opted out of Social Security to renew their participation in the system, whereby gaining access to the numerous benefits, such as retirement income and disability.

Several faith-based organizations played a key role in getting this bill pushed through Congress, including the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).  ECFA President & CEO, Michael Martin, said, “I applaud the sponsors of the Clergy Act for shepherding this bill to final passage. This is an exciting moment for many pastors who may feel trapped by a decision they did not fully understand as they began their pastoral work. The temporary window this bipartisan bill opens for those ministers to re-enter the Social Security system is a reasonable allowance. Moreover, it will truly be a welcome breath of fresh air for these servant leaders.”  

Of note, clergy who “rejoin” the system must still earn the needed 40 credits before being eligible to receive benefits.  Also, the IRS and the Social Security Administration have been tasked with notifying clergy members of their eligibility for this reenrollment opportunity.

For more information on Social Security issues for clergy members, consider this resource from ECFA: 10 Essentials of Social Security for Ministers.