Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025
This bill requires the Social Security Administration to carry out a demonstration project during which blind Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries receive reduced benefits commensurate with income above certain thresholds.
Under current law, only individuals who earn under a specified monthly income, known as the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold, are considered disabled and thereby eligible for SSDI benefits. For blind workers, this limit is $2,700 per month in 2025. SSDI beneficiaries may earn beyond the SGA threshold for a limited period of time, known as the trial work period, before their benefits are suspended and ultimately terminate.
The bill establishes a 20-year demonstration project during which individuals who are entitled to SSDI benefits by reason of blindness and who earn above the SGA threshold continue to receive benefits at an amount gradually reduced commensurate with their earnings beyond a specified amount.
During this period, blind workers’ SSDI benefits must be reduced by $1 for every $2 that a worker earns above the sum of (1) the SGA threshold, and (2) the worker’s expenses reasonably attributable to their work. The SGA threshold may not be used to determine whether an individual is disabled during this period, and blind workers’ SSDI benefits may not be terminated due to work-related earnings. The trial work period also must not apply.
After 10 years, affected beneficiaries may opt out of the modified benefits structure.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1175 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1175
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the
Commissioner of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project
relating to disability benefits of blind individuals.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2025
Mr. Sessions (for himself, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Fields, and Mr. Valadao)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the
Commissioner of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project
relating to disability benefits of blind individuals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Blind Americans Return to Work Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERICANS.
Title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 235. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERICANS.
``(a) In General.--For a 20-year period beginning not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commissioner
shall carry out the demonstration project described in subsection (b).
``(b) Benefit Offset.--
``(1) In general.--The demonstration project described in
this subsection is a project under which benefits under section
223 are modified pursuant to paragraph (2) for individuals--
``(A) who are entitled to a benefit under 223(a)(1)
for a month during the 120-month period beginning with
the first month of the 20-year period described in
subsection (a); and
``(B) whose disability is by reason of blindness
(as defined in section 216(i)(1)).
``(2) Modification.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the
benefit under section 223 of an individual described in
paragraph (1) is modified as follows:
``(A) In determining eligibility for such benefit,
a determination of whether the individual is disabled
under section 223(d)(1)(B) shall be made without
respect to substantial gainful activity.
``(B) Any benefit payable to the individual for a
month (other than a benefit payable for any month prior
to the first month beginning after the date on which
the individual's entitlement to such benefit is
determined) shall be reduced, except such benefit may
not be reduced below $0, by $1 for every $2 by which
the individual's earnings derived from services paid
during such month exceeds the sum of--
``(i) the exempt amount described in
section 223(d)(4)(A); and
``(ii) an amount equal to the individual's
expenses reasonably attributable to the earning
of any income for such month.
``(C) Entitlement to any such benefit shall not
terminate due to earnings derived from services.
``(D) The period of trial work described in section
222(c) shall not apply.
``(E) The provisions related to the termination
month in subsection (a)(1) of section 223 shall not
apply.
``(c) Authority To Waive Compliance With Certain Requirements.--In
carrying out the demonstration project under this section, the
Commissioner may waive compliance with the benefit requirements of this
title and the requirements of section 1148 as they relate to the
programs established under this title, insofar as necessary to carry
out the demonstration project.
``(d) Opt Out.--After the 120-month period described in subsection
(b)(1)(A), an individual described in such subsection may opt out of
the demonstration project.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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