I 

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. 

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 

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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Blind Americans Re5 turn to Work Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERI2 CANS. 

3 Title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 

4 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 235. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERI6 CANS. 

7 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—For a 20-year period beginning 

8 not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 

9 this section, the Commissioner shall carry out the dem10 onstration project described in subsection (b). 

11 ‘‘(b) BENEFIT OFFSET.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The demonstration project 

13 described in this subsection is a project under which 

14 benefits under section 223 are modified pursuant to 

15 paragraph (2) for individuals— 

16 ‘‘(A) who are entitled to a benefit under 

17 223(a)(1) for a month during the 120-month 

18 period beginning with the first month of the 20- 

19 year period described in subsection (a); and 

20 ‘‘(B) whose disability is by reason of blind21 ness (as defined in section 216(i)(1)). 

22 ‘‘(2) MODIFICATION.—For purposes of para23 graph (1), the benefit under section 223 of an indi24 vidual described in paragraph (1) is modified as fol25 lows: 


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1 ‘‘(A) In determining eligibility for such 

2 benefit, a determination of whether the indi3 vidual is disabled under section 223(d)(1)(B) 

4 shall be made without respect to substantial 

5 gainful activity. 

6 ‘‘(B) Any benefit payable to the individual 

7 for a month (other than a benefit payable for 

8 any month prior to the first month beginning 

9 after the date on which the individual’s entitle10 ment to such benefit is determined) shall be re11 duced, except such benefit may not be reduced 

12 below $0, by $1 for every $2 by which the indi13 vidual’s earnings derived from services paid 

14 during such month exceeds the sum of— 

15 ‘‘(i) the exempt amount described in 

16 section 223(d)(4)(A); and 

17 ‘‘(ii) an amount equal to the individ18 ual’s expenses reasonably attributable to 

19 the earning of any income for such month. 

20 ‘‘(C) Entitlement to any such benefit shall 

21 not terminate due to earnings derived from 

22 services. 

23 ‘‘(D) The period of trial work described in 

24 section 222(c) shall not apply. 


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1 ‘‘(E) The provisions related to the termi2 nation month in subsection (a)(1) of section 

3 223 shall not apply. 

4 ‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COMPLIANCE WITH CER5 TAIN REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the demonstra6 tion project under this section, the Commissioner may 

7 waive compliance with the benefit requirements of this 

8 title and the requirements of section 1148 as they relate 

9 to the programs established under this title, insofar as 

10 necessary to carry out the demonstration project. 

11 ‘‘(d) OPT OUT.—After the 120-month period de12 scribed in subsection (b)(1)(A), an individual described in 

13 such subsection may opt out of the demonstration 

14 project.’’. 

Æ 


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