Skip to main content

Agora
Sign in

House bill · H.R. 1175 (119th Congress)

Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025

U.S. House of Representatives

Latest action Jun 24, 2025

Sponsor: Pete Sessions (U.S. Representative, TX-17, Republican)

Follow

Following needs an Agora account. You will sign in first, then come back to this page.

From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Jul 30, 2026. About our data

Summary

Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025 This bill requires the Social Security Administration to carry out a demonstration project during which blind Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries receive reduced benefits commensurate with income above certain thresholds. Under current law, only individuals who earn under a specified monthly income, known as the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold, are considered disabled and thereby eligible for SSDI benefits. For blind workers, this limit is $2,700 per month in 2025. SSDI beneficiaries may earn beyond the SGA threshold for a limited period of time, known as the trial work period , before their benefits are suspended and ultimately terminate. The bill establishes a 20-year demonstration project during which individuals who are entitled to SSDI benefits by reason of blindness and who earn above the SGA threshold continue to receive benefits at an amount gradually reduced commensurate with their earnings beyond a specified amount. During this period, blind workers’ SSDI benefits must be reduced by $1 for every $2 that a worker earns above the sum of (1) the SGA threshold, and (2) the worker’s expenses reasonably attributable to their work. The SGA threshold may not be used to determine whether an individual is disabled during this period, and blind workers’ SSDI benefits may not be terminated due to work-related earnings. The trial work period also must not apply. After 10 years, affected beneficiaries may opt out of the modified benefits structure.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Assigned to a committee for review.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

House Committee on Ways and Means · U.S. House of Representatives

Your position on this bill

Choose the position closest to yours. You'll sign in or create an account to save it.

Sign in or create an account to give your position

Cosponsors

53

Cosponsors listed on Congress.gov, shown A to Z.

  • Democratic34
  • Republican19

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

Show the full list (53 names)

Related bills

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

  1. Jun 24, 2025

    Introduced

    Introduced in U.S. House

    U.S. House

  2. Feb 10, 2025

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    U.S. House of Representatives

  3. Feb 10, 2025

    In committee

    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

    U.S. House

  4. Feb 10, 2025

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

    U.S. House of Representatives

Read the record