[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8878 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8878
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.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 28, 2024
Mr. Sessions (for himself and Mr. Mfume) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
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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 2024''.
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.''.
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