Politiparty
Politiparty
LeaderboardCongressBills

119th Congress Social Welfare

H.R. 1175: Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Feb 10, 2025
  2. Passed House (not reached)
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Feb 10, 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.

Read the full summary

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.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

54

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

18 points earned
  1. 1Pete Sessions R-TX SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reached a cosponsor milestone4 events+18
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Pete Sessions

History

  1. Feb 10, 2025Introduced in the House by Pete Sessions.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
  1. Feb 10, 2025Introduced in House
  2. Feb 10, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.