Sponsors (50)
The bill helps blind SSDI beneficiaries work by phasing out benefits and allowing work-expense deductions—potentially increasing employment and evidence for policy—but it may reduce monthly benefits for some, weaken safeguards, and create administrative complexity.
People with blindness who receive SSDI can work and continue receiving benefits instead of losing entitlement when they earn income, because the demonstration replaces abrupt termination with an earnings-offset that phases out benefits.
Participants can deduct work-related expenses from countable earnings, effectively raising the amount they can earn before benefits are reduced and increasing net income from work.
A 20-year demonstration will generate long-term evidence about how work incentives affect blind SSDI beneficiaries, potentially improving future SSDI policy and program design.
Some blind beneficiaries who earn above the exempt amount will receive lower monthly SSDI checks because benefits are reduced by the demonstration's offset formula.
The legislation waives certain Title II and section 1148 rules, which could weaken program safeguards or oversight and risk inconsistent or unintended eligibility outcomes.
Replacing existing rules like the trial work period and substantial gainful activity could create confusion and added administrative complexity for beneficiaries and SSA staff during the demonstration.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a 20-year SSA demonstration letting blind SSDI beneficiaries keep entitlement while offsetting monthly benefits $1 per $2 earned above the exempt amount.
Introduced February 10, 2025 by Pete Sessions · Last progress February 10, 2025
Creates a 20-year Social Security demonstration that tests new work rules for people whose disability is blindness and who are entitled to SSDI during the first 10 years of the project. The demonstration lets eligible blind beneficiaries continue entitlement while ignoring the usual substantial gainful activity test for continuing disability, reduces monthly SSDI benefits by $1 for every $2 of earnings above the exempt amount (after work-related expense deductions) but not below $0, and removes certain standard work‑related termination and trial‑work rules. The Social Security Commissioner may waive other program requirements as needed, the demonstration must start within 180 days of enactment, and eligible participants may opt out after the first 10 years of the project.