Social Security Tenant Protection Act of 2025.

Assembly Member Bryan's Social Security Tenant Protection Act of 2025 establishes temporary eviction protections for tenants experiencing income loss due to Social Security benefit payment interruptions. The legislation prevents courts from issuing unlawful detainer summons for nonpayment of rent when tenants can demonstrate reliance on delayed Social Security payments.

The bill requires landlords to provide modified eviction notices during benefit interruptions, including an unsigned declaration form for tenants to document their financial hardship. Tenants must return the signed declaration within 14 days, along with proof that Social Security benefits constitute at least 25% of their household income. Notices failing to meet these requirements cannot support an unlawful detainer judgment.

Under the Act, the California Department of Justice monitors Social Security payment disruptions and notifies the Legislature and courts when interruptions occur. These protections activate when payments are delayed three or more days beyond scheduled disbursement dates and remain in effect until payments resume or six months pass. The law also restricts landlords from applying security deposits or rent payments to covered rental debt without written tenant agreement during the protection period.

The provisions apply to residential tenancies and mobilehome parks through January 20, 2029. Courts retain authority to issue summons for other lease violations and for nonpayment cases where tenants do not receive Social Security benefits or fail to submit required documentation. The Act includes procedural requirements for unlawful detainer filings and establishes criteria for courts to evaluate cases during benefit interruptions.