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HB 2801

Modifies provisions for blind pensions

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Yolanda Young

The bill extends blind pension reexaminations from every five to seven years, with exemptions for certain cases, while preserving eligibility and funding rules.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
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Bill Summary · HB 2801

Summary of Bill HB 2801 (Missouri, 2026)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill amends Missouri’s blind pension provisions (sections 209.010 to 209.160) to modify how often recipients must obtain updated certifications of blindness for continued eligibility.
  • It shifts the required reexamination interval from every five years to every seven years, with a specific exemption for certain cases.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Definition of “blind” and eligibility testing (Section 209.040, new language)

    • Remains focused on individuals whose vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in the better eye or whose visual field is 5 degrees or less, lasting or anticipated to last at least 12 months.
    • Eligibility must be demonstrated via a scientific vision test conducted by a designated ophthalmologist, physician skilled in disease of the eye, or optometrist.

  2. Reexamination interval for continued eligibility (Section 209.040, subsection 2)

    • Reexamination certificate must be submitted every seven years after the initial vision test, instead of every five years.
    • The examining professional may indicate a sooner reexamination if vision may reasonably be expected to improve.
    • An individual deemed to have no usable vision in the better eye by an ophthalmologist, physician trained in disease of the eye, or optometrist is exempt from the seven-year reexamination requirement, but the department may still request a reexamination if there is reason to believe the person may no longer be blind.
    • The seven-year requirement does not apply to the eligibility determination following the initial vision test (i.e., the initial determination remains unchanged).

  3. Pension amount and eligibility conditions (Section 209.040, subsection 3)

    • Eligible blind pension recipients receive a monthly pension set by the General Assembly, with a floor of $340 per month.
    • Pensions are not payable to individuals who are eligible for the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or who are receiving general relief assistance.

  4. Pension fund solvency and proportional reductions (Section 209.040, subsections 4)

    • If funds are insufficient to pay full benefits, payments to all eligible recipients may be pro rated.

  5. Medical assistance integration (Section 209.040, subsections 5)

    • Medical assistance for blind recipients eligible under sections 208.151 to 208.158 is provided from designated medical funds and not from the blind pension fund, and is not subject to the blind pension durational residence requirement.

  6. Pension funding and annual adjustment (Section 209.040, subsections 6)

    • The monthly pension amount is set by the General Assembly each year and can be adjusted via supplemental appropriation.
    • The Department of Social Services must submit a projected annual pension amount for the upcoming fiscal year as part of its budget request.
    • The annual change in the monthly pension payment is calculated using a formula tied to 75% of the annual change in the blind pension fund’s balance divided by the projected number of eligible recipients, with one-twelfth applied.

Who is affected

  • Blind recipients currently receiving a pension under sections 209.010 to 209.160.
  • Ophthalmologists, physicians skilled in disease of the eye, and optometrists designated or approved by the Department of Social Services who conduct the required vision tests.
  • The Department of Social Services, which administers the reexamination process and determines ongoing eligibility.
  • The General Assembly, which sets the annual pension amount and may adjust it through supplemental appropriations.
  • Individuals eligible for SSI or receiving general relief assistance are exempt from receiving blind pensions under this program.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Reexamination cadence changes from every five years to every seven years, effective upon codification of the new section.
  • Initial eligibility testing remains the same; the seven-year cadence applies after the initial certification.
  • Annual budgeting and projected pension estimates are required as part of the department’s budget process, influencing year-to-year pension adjustments.
  • If funds are insufficient, benefits are reduced pro rata across eligible recipients.

Context and status

  • Sponsored by Representative Yolanda Young.
  • The bill closely mirrors prior proposals (HB 359 in 2025 and HB 2675 in 2024) and is part of a broader discussion about adjusting blind pension program administration and funding.
  • As of the latest action, it has been referred to Emerging Issues (H) after introduction and previously read in committees and on the House floor.

Note: The bill maintains the overall framework of the blind pension program while formalizing a longer interval between reexaminations and clarifying exemptions for those with no usable vision.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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