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Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2026
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the Commissioner of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project relating to disability benefits of blind individuals.
Summary
The bill establishes a 20-year demonstration project for blind individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to encourage return to work. Under the project, blind beneficiaries would have their disability determined without regard to substantial gainful activity, would not have their benefits terminated due to work earnings, and would see benefits reduced by only $1 for every $2 earned above an exempt amount plus work expenses. The project would eliminate the trial work period and other work-related benefit termination provisions that normally apply to disability beneficiaries. Individuals would have the option to opt out after an initial 120-month enrollment period, and the Commissioner of Social Security must begin the project within 180 days of enactment.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK)
1 cosponsor
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Dan Sullivan’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Dan Sullivan → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Apr 16, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. · senate
- Apr 16, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026
Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the Commissioner of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project relating to disability benefits of blind individuals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERICANS.
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 AMERICANS.
“(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 demonstration 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 blindness (as defined in section 216(i)(1)).
“(2) Modification.—For purposes of paragraph (1), the benefit under section 223 of an individual described in paragraph (1) is modified as follows:
“(A) In determining eligibility for such benefit, a determination of whether the individual 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 entitlement to such benefit is determined) shall be reduced, except such benefit may not be reduced below $0, by $1 for every $2 by which the individual’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 individual’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.
“(E) The provisions related to the termination month in subsection (a)(1) of section 223 shall not apply.
“(c) Authority To Waive Compliance With Certain Requirements.—In carrying out the demonstration 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 described in subsection
(b)(1)(A), an individual described in such subsection may opt out of the demonstration project.”. <all>
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