I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4538 
To amend title IV–A of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 19, 2021 
Mr. SMITH of Missouri (for himself and Mrs. WALORSKI) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend title IV–A of the Social Security Act, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Benefits to Employ-
ment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EXPECTING UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT AND CASE 
MANAGEMENT. 
Section 408(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
608(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY PLANS.— 
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‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT.—The State agency respon-
sible for administering the State program funded 
under this part shall make an initial assessment of 
the following for each recipient of assistance who is 
required to be engaged in work pursuant to section 
407(c): 
‘‘(A) The education obtained, skills, prior 
work experience, work readiness, and barriers 
to work of the individual. 
‘‘(B) The well-being of the children in the 
family of the individual and, where appropriate, 
activities or services (such as services offered by 
a program funded under section 511) to im-
prove the well-being of the children. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF PLANS.—On the basis of 
the assessment required by paragraph (1) of this 
subsection, the State agency, in consultation with 
the individual, shall develop an individual oppor-
tunity plan that— 
‘‘(A) includes a personal responsibility 
agreement in which the individual acknowledges 
receipt of publicly-funded benefits and responsi-
bility to comply with program requirements in 
order to receive the benefits; 
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‘‘(B) sets forth the obligations of the indi-
vidual to participate in work activities, and the 
number of hours per month for which the indi-
vidual will so participate pursuant to section 
407(c); 
‘‘(C) sets forth an employment goal and 
planned short-, intermediate-, and long-term ac-
tions to achieve the goal, and, in the case of an 
individual who has not attained 24 years of age 
and is in secondary school or the equivalent, the 
intermediate action may be completion of sec-
ondary school or the equivalent; 
‘‘(D) describes the job counseling and 
other services the State will provide to the indi-
vidual to enable the individual to obtain and 
keep employment in the private sector; 
‘‘(E) may include referral to appropriate 
substance abuse or mental health treatment; 
and 
‘‘(F) is signed by the individual. 
‘‘(3) TIMING.—The State agency shall comply 
with paragraph (1) and (2) with respect to a work- 
eligible individual— 
‘‘(A) within 180 days after the effective 
date of this subsection, in the case of an indi-
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vidual who, as of such effective date, is a recipi-
ent of assistance under the State program fund-
ed under this part (as in effect immediately be-
fore such effective date); or 
‘‘(B) within 60 days after the individual is 
determined to be eligible for the assistance, in 
the case of any other individual. 
‘‘(4) PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE BY INDI-
VIDUAL.—In addition to any other penalties required 
under the State program funded under this part, the 
State may reduce, by such amount as the State con-
siders appropriate, the amount of assistance other-
wise payable under the State program to a family 
that includes an individual who fails without good 
cause to comply with an individual opportunity plan 
developed pursuant to this subsection, that is signed 
by the individual. 
‘‘(5) PERIODIC REVIEW.—The State shall meet 
with each work-eligible individual assessed by the 
State under paragraph (1), not less frequently than 
every 90 days, to— 
‘‘(A) review the individual opportunity plan 
developed for the individual; 
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‘‘(B) discuss with the individual the 
progress made by the individual in achieving 
the goals specified in the plan; and 
‘‘(C) update the plan, as necessary, to re-
flect any changes in the circumstances of the 
individual since the plan was last reviewed. 
‘‘(6) STATE DISCRETION.—A State shall have 
sole discretion, consistent with section 407, to define 
and design activities for families for purposes of this 
subsection, to develop methods for monitoring and 
reviewing progress pursuant to this subsection, and 
to make modifications to the plans developed pursu-
ant to this subsection as the State deems appro-
priate to assist families in increasing their degree of 
self-sufficiency.’’. 
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendment made by this Act shall take effect 
on October 1, 2022. 
Æ 
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