I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1175 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the Commissioner 
of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project relating to dis-
ability benefits of blind individuals. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 10, 2025 
Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. MFUME, Mr. FIELDS, and Mr. VALADAO) in-
troduced 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 dem-
onstration project relating to disability benefits of blind 
individuals. 
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 ‘‘Blind Americans Re-
turn to Work Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERI-
CANS. 
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 AMERI-
CANS. 
‘‘(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 dem-
onstration 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 blind-
ness (as defined in section 216(i)(1)). 
‘‘(2) MODIFICATION.—For purposes of para-
graph (1), the benefit under section 223 of an indi-
vidual described in paragraph (1) is modified as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘(A) In determining eligibility for such 
benefit, a determination of whether the indi-
vidual 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 entitle-
ment to such benefit is determined) shall be re-
duced, except such benefit may not be reduced 
below $0, by $1 for every $2 by which the indi-
vidual’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 individ-
ual’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. 
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‘‘(E) The provisions related to the termi-
nation month in subsection (a)(1) of section 
223 shall not apply. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COMPLIANCE WITH CER-
TAIN REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the demonstra-
tion 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 de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1)(A), an individual described in 
such subsection may opt out of the demonstration 
project.’’. 
Æ 
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