United States 116th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 47 R · 13 D · 1 I cosponsors

HR 2655 — Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act

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

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

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act This bill increases the monthly income limit that is used to determine whether certain Purple Heart recipients are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Specifically, when making such determinations with respect to Purple Heart recipients who are entitled to SSDI benefits based on combat-related injuries, the Social Security Administration must use the limit that applies to individuals who are blind rather than the lower limit that applies to other SSDI recipients. In addition, the bill phases out SSDI benefits for these Purple Heart recipients, with benefits reduced by $1 for every $4 of earnings in excess of the limit.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Social security · 42 U.S.C. ch. 7 1 section
  • § 423 Disability insurance benefit payments Amends

    42 U.S.C. § 423 — at 423(e), 423(a)(2), and 423(d)(4)(A)

    The law today

    (a) Disability insurance benefits (1) Every individual who— (A) is insured for disability insurance benefits (as determined under subsection (c)(1)), (B) has not attained retirement age (as defined in section 416(l) of this title), (C) if not a United States citizen or national— (i) has been assigned a social security account number that was, at the time of assignment, or at any later time, consistent with the requirements of subclause (I) or (III) of section 405(c)(2)(B)(i) of this title; or (ii) at the time any quarters of coverage are earned— (I) is described in subparagraph (B) or (D) of section 1101(a)(15) of title 8, (II) is lawfully admitted temporarily to the United States for business (in the case of an individual described in such subparagraph (B)) or the performance as a crewman (in the case of an individual described in such subparagraph (D)), and (III) the business engaged in or service as a crewman performed is within the scope of the terms of such individual’s admission to the United States.1 (D) has filed application for disability insurance benefits, and (E) is under a disability (as defined in subsection (d)) shall be entitled to a disability insurance benefit (i) for each month beginning with the first month after his waiting period (as defined in subsection (c)(2)) in which he becomes so entitled to such insurance benefits, (ii) in the case of an individual who has been medically determined to have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for each month beginning with the first month during all of which the individual is under a disability and in which the individual becomes entitled to such insurance benefits, or (iii) for each month beginning with the first month during all of which he is under a disability and in which he becomes so entitled to such insurance benefits, but only if he was entitled to disability insurance benefits which terminated, or had a period of disability (as defined in section 416(i) of this title) which ceased, within the 60-month period preceding the first month in which he is under such disability, and ending with the month preceding whichever of the following months is the earliest: the month in which he dies, the month in which he attains retirement age (as defined in section 416(l) of this title), or, subject to subsection (e), the termination month. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the termination month for any individual shall be the third month following the month in which his disability ceases; except that, in the case of an individual who has a period of trial work which ends as determined by application of section 422(c)(4)(A) of this title, the termination month shall be the earlier of (I) the third month following the earliest month after the end of such period of trial work with respect to which such individual is determined to no longer be suffering from a disabling physical or mental impairment, or (II) the third month following the earliest month in which such individual engages or is determined able to engage in substantial gainful activity, but in no event earlier than the first month occurring after the 36 months following such period of trial work in which he engages or is determined able to engage in substantial gainful activity. No payment under this paragraph may be made to an individual who would not meet the definition of disability in subsection (d) except for paragraph (1)(B) thereof for any month in which he engages in substantial gainful activity, and no payment may be made for such month under subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section 402 of this title to any person on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such individual. In the case of a deceased individual, the requirement of subparagraph (C) may be satisfied by an application for benefits filed with respect to such individual within 3 months after the month in which he died. (2) Except as provided in section 402(q) of this title and section 415(b)(2)(A)(ii) of this title, such individu...

    69 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a disability benefit offset for Purple Heart recipients, allowing them to continue receiving benefits beyond the typical termination month while subject to certain earnings reductions.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(e)(1)

    (1) No benefit → (1) (A) Except as provided in paragraph (2), No benefit

    This change introduces a new subparagraph to clarify exceptions to the no benefit rule.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(e)(2)

    (2) No benefit → (B) No benefit

    This change renumbers the existing paragraph and makes it a subparagraph to align with the new structure.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(e)(2)

    paragraph (1) → subparagraph (A)

    This update clarifies that references are to the newly added subparagraph.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(e)

    (2)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1) of this section, in any case in which an individual is entitled to a monthly insurance benefit under such subsection based on a disability that is attributable to an injury for which the individual was awarded the Purple Heart, such individual shall be deemed to continue to be entitled to such benefit without regard to the individual's termination month, except that payment of such benefit for any month shall be subject to the reduction described in subparagraph (B).

    This addition allows Purple Heart recipients to continue receiving disability benefits without regard to the usual termination rules.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(e)

    (B)(i) Any benefit described in subparagraph (A) otherwise payable to an individual described in such subparagraph for a month shall be reduced by $1 for each $4 by which the individual's earnings derived from services for such month exceeds the amount specified for such month in clause (ii), except that such benefit may not be reduced below $0.

    This sets forth a new earnings reduction formula specifically for Purple Heart recipients.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(e)

    (ii) The amount specified in this clause with respect to an individual for a month is the amount of earnings derived from services, applicable to the individual for such month under subsection (d)(4)(A), sufficient to demonstrate the individual's ability to engage in substantial gainful activity.

    This defines the earnings threshold for Purple Heart recipients in relation to substantial gainful activity.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(e)

    (C) In the case of a benefit otherwise payable to an individual for a month under section 202 on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of an individual whose benefit is reduced pursuant to subparagraph (B), such benefit shall be reduced for such month by the same proportion as the reduction made pursuant to subparagraph (B).

    This ensures that reductions to the income of Purple Heart recipients are proportionately applied.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(a)(2)

    and section 215(b)(2)(A)(ii) → , section 215(b)(2)(A)(ii), and subsection (e) of this section

    This change includes the new section (e) within the scope of other relevant sections.

  • 42 U.S.C. 423(d)(4)(A)

    or who is entitled to a monthly insurance benefit under subsection (a)(1) based on a disability that is attributable to an injury for which the individual was awarded the Purple Heart

    This expands eligibility criteria for substantial gainful activity consideration to include Purple Heart recipients.

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 · 60 co-sponsors · 486 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (60)

Not signed on (486)

486 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 486 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 2655 do?
Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act This bill increases the monthly income limit that is used to determine whether certain Purple Heart recipients are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Specifically, when making such determinations with respect to Purple Heart recipients who are entitled to SSDI benefits based on combat-related injuries, the Social Security Administration must use the limit that applies to individuals who are blind rather than the lower limit that applies to other SSDI recipients. In addition, the bill phases out SSDI benefits for these Purple Heart recipients, with benefits reduced by $1 for every $4 of earnings in excess of the limit.
Who sponsors HR 2655?
HR 2655 is sponsored by Garamendi, John (Democratic), Panetta, Jimmy (Democratic), Hartzler, Vicky (Republican), Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" (Republican), Turner, Michael R. (Republican), Kim, Andy (Democratic), Raskin, Jamie (Democratic), Abraham, Ralph Lee (Republican), Allen, Rick W. (Republican), Baird, James R. (Republican), Bishop, Sanford D. (Democratic), Bergman, Jack (Republican), Carbajal, Salud O. (Democratic), Conaway, K. Michael (Republican), DesJarlais, Scott (Republican), Dunn, Neal P. (Republican), Ferguson, A. Drew (Republican), Graves, Sam (Republican), Graves, Tom (Republican), Loudermilk, Barry (Republican), Mast, Brian J. (Republican), Rouzer, David (Republican), Scott, David (Democratic), Stefanik, Elise M. (Republican), Stewart, Chris (Republican), Thornberry, Mac (Republican), Van Drew, Jefferson (Republican), Waltz, Michael (Republican), Hudson, Richard (Republican), Rice, Tom (Republican), Duncan, Jeff (Republican), Flores, Bill (Republican), Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" (Republican), Vela, Filemon (Democratic), Mitchell, Paul (Independent), Marshall, Roger (Republican), Walker, Mark (Republican), Wilson, Joe (Republican), Chabot, Steve (Republican), Kelly, Trent (Republican), Slotkin, Elissa (Democratic), Lamborn, Doug (Republican), Rogers, Mike D. (Republican), Wright, Ron (Republican), Herrera Beutler, Jaime (Republican), Babin, Brian (Republican), Buchanan, Vern (Republican), McHenry, Patrick T. (Republican), Thompson, Glenn (Republican), Taylor, Van (Republican), Womack, Steve (Republican), Roby, Martha (Republican), Bacon, Don (Republican), Courtney, Joe (Democratic), Escobar, Veronica (Democratic), Lamb, Conor (Democratic), Mooney, Alexander X. (Republican), Rose, Max (Democratic), Joyce, John (Republican), Collins, Doug (Republican), and Scott, Austin (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 2655?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 2655?
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