About 3 million retirees would get full benefits in addition to pensions. As a result, Social Security could hit insolvency earlier.

The popular measure gives full benefits to millions of people who currently receive them at a reduced level. Critics warn the $196 billion cost will speed up the program’s insolvency.

Legislation now headed to President Biden's desk comes with the Social Security Administration staffed at a 50-year low.

The Senate passed legislation early Saturday to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year.