United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 32 D · 18 R cosponsors

HR 1175 — Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 50 sponsors

    1 primary, 49 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (32 D · 18 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025This 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.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 49 co-sponsors · 497 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (49)

Not signed on (497)

497 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 497 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

civil-rights healthcare labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 1175 do?
Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025This 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.
Who sponsors HR 1175?
HR 1175 is sponsored by Sessions, Pete (Republican), Mfume, Kweisi (Democratic), Fields, Cleo (Democratic), Valadao, David G. (Republican), Moulton, Seth (Democratic), Stauber, Pete (Republican), Shreve, Jefferson (Republican), Trahan, Lori (Democratic), McBride, Sarah (Democratic), Crow, Jason (Democratic), Thanedar, Shri (Democratic), Pettersen, Brittany (Democratic), Garamendi, John (Democratic), Vindman, Eugene Simon (Democratic), Pocan, Mark (Democratic), Ciscomani, Juan (Republican), Bice, Stephanie I. (Republican), Riley, Josh (Democratic), Grothman, Glenn (Republican), Kelly, Mike (Republican), Landsman, Greg (Democratic), Golden, Jared F. (Democratic), Harder, Josh (Democratic), Balint, Becca (Democratic), Pappas, Chris (Democratic), Crank, Jeff (Republican), Thompson, Glenn (Republican), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), Cisneros, Gilbert Ray (Democratic), Bynum, Janelle S. (Democratic), Davids, Sharice (Democratic), Van Orden, Derrick (Republican), Gottheimer, Josh (Democratic), Fine, Randy (Republican), Schmidt, Derek (Republican), Norcross, Donald (Democratic), Guest, Michael (Republican), Simon, Lateefah (Democratic), Bishop, Sanford D. (Democratic), Costa, Jim (Democratic), Neguse, Joe (Democratic), Grijalva, Adelita S. (Democratic), Ivey, Glenn (Democratic), Soto, Darren (Democratic), Rutherford, John H. (Republican), Suozzi, Thomas R. (Democratic), Moore, Blake D. (Republican), Haridopolos, Mike (Republican), Edwards, Chuck (Republican), and Hoyer, Steny H. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 1175?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 1175?
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