Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025
U.S. Congress · HR1175 ·
Progression
Timing in context
Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)
Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.
What the bill says
Introduced 2025-02-10. Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Summary (plain-language)
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.
Sponsors
- Pete Sessions (primary)
- Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
- Stephanie I. Bice
- Becca Balint
- Janelle S. Bynum
- Jim Costa
- Jason Crow
- Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr.
- Juan Ciscomani
- Jeff Crank
- Sharice Davids
- Chuck Edwards
- Cleo Fields
- Randy Fine
- John Garamendi
- Glenn Grothman
- Josh Gottheimer
- Michael Guest
- Jared F. Golden
- Maggie Goodlander
- Adelita S. Grijalva
- Steny H. Hoyer
- Josh Harder
- Abraham J. Hamadeh
- Mike Haridopolos
- Glenn Ivey
- Mike Kelly
- Greg Landsman
- Kweisi Mfume
- Seth Moulton
- Blake D. Moore
- Sarah McBride
- Eleanor Holmes Norton
- Donald Norcross
- Joe Neguse
- Zachary Nunn
- Ilhan Omar
- Mark Pocan
- Chris Pappas
- Brittany Pettersen
- John H. Rutherford
- Josh Riley
- Darren Soto
- Thomas R. Suozzi
- Pete Stauber
- Derek Schmidt
- Jefferson Shreve
- Lateefah Simon
- Glenn Thompson
- Lori Trahan
- Shri Thanedar
- David G. Valadao
- Derrick Van Orden
- Eugene Simon Vindman
Text versions
- Introduced in House — 2025-02-10 — XML
What analysts say
No nonpartisan analysis on file for this measure yet.
What politicians say
No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.
Action History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2025-02-10 | Introduced in House |
| 2025-02-10 | Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. |