The "Safeguarding Benefits for Americans Act of 2026" aims to restrict eligibility for various Federal assistance benefits solely to individuals who are verified citizens or nationals of the United States. This legislation mandates a rigorous two-part citizenship requirement for all applicants and current recipients of such benefits, broadly defining these benefits to include programs where eligibility is based on income or resources, including those under the Social Security Act. To meet the citizenship requirement, individuals must first satisfy an attestation requirement by filing a written declaration, under penalty of perjury, confirming their U.S. citizenship or nationality. Secondly, they must fulfill a citizenship verification requirement , which involves providing satisfactory documentary evidence, a photographic identity document, and their name and Social Security number for confirmation against records maintained by the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, including verification through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program. The bill establishes an appeals process for individuals notified of ineligibility and grants the Director of the Office of Management and Budget authority to issue regulations and guidance for implementation. Entities that willfully and repeatedly fail to comply with these verification requirements or provide benefits to ineligible individuals face disqualification from furnishing benefits. The Act applies to eligibility determinations made one year after enactment, with a two-year transition period for current recipients to satisfy the new citizenship requirements, and supersedes less restrictive existing citizenship-related eligibility laws.