S4334Referred to Committee

Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2026

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-04-16
Introduced
1
Cosponsors
S
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Dan Sullivan
Dan Sullivan
Republican · AK · Senator
Votes with party: 31.6% (313 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/S001198

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (1)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

2026-04-16

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

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Plain-English Summary

The Social Security Administration would test a new program to help blind people who receive disability benefits keep more of their earnings without losing their benefits. The demonstration project would explore whether allowing blind individuals to work and earn income while maintaining their disability payments encourages employment and improves their financial situation. This pilot program would help determine if current rules that reduce benefits when people earn money should be changed for blind workers.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Social Welfare

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4334 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4334 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026 Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance _______________________________________________________________________ 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 2026''. 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>
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