Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act

119th Congress Introduced by Austin Scott and 1 co-sponsor

Reauthorizes SSA’s five-year demonstration authority to test policies that boost work among DI beneficiaries without reducing their total income.

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1398 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8800, H.R. 8595, H.R. 8884 and H. Res. 1383. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8800 and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule, and H.R. 8884 and H. Res. 1383 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 8800, H.R. 8595, and H.R. 8884.

Overview

Bill: HR 8884 (Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act)

Session: 119th Congress

Purpose: Reauthorize and temporarily extend the disability insurance (DI) demonstration authority under title II of the Social Security Act, to test policies that promote work for DI beneficiaries without reducing their total income.

Main Purpose and Intent

Reauthorize SSA’s authority to conduct demonstration projects (section 234 of the Social Security Act) for five years (Jan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2031).

Test alternative DI policies aimed at increasing work attachment and successful return-to-work outcomes while safeguarding beneficiaries’ overall income.

Key Provisions and Changes

Termination Date (a): Extends demonstration authorization to December 31, 2031; projects must terminate by December 31, 2031.

Compliance Waivers (b):

Extend permissible waiver of certain benefits requirements until Dec 31, 2030 (instead of 2021/2022 in current law).
Allow waivers of certain requirements to conduct demonstrations, including related Medicare/Medicaid provisions as needed for evaluation.
Require that SSA provide 120 days’ notice (instead of 90) to Congress before starting a demonstration, including objectives, estimated costs, and evaluation metrics.

Expenditures (c):

Administrative costs for demonstrations paid from title administration funds.
Benefits paid to participants in demonstrations drawn from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund, as determined appropriate by SSA.

Income Limitation (d):

Add a new protection: total income of an individual participating in a demonstration cannot be reduced due to participation.

Technical Amendments (e): Minor edits to ensure references use consistent terminology and remove obsolete subsections.

Effective Date (f): Provisions become effective January 1, 2027.

Who/What Is Affected

Beneficiaries under the DI program who participate in SSA demonstration projects.

SSA administrative operations funding and how demonstration costs are allocated between trust funds.

The Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, which fund participant benefits in demonstrations.

Congress, which must be notified 120 days prior to demonstrations and receive reports.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Effective date: January 1, 2027.

Demonstration projects must include 120-day advance notice to Congress with objectives, costs, and metrics.

Annual interim reporting requirement to House Ways and Means and Senate Finance (progress and data) under the demonstration authority.

Demonstrations can be expanded to include broader groups with impairments presumed disabling for purposes of the project.

Funding for administrative costs comes from the title’s administrative appropriation; benefits from demonstrations come from the relevant trust funds.

Additional Context

The accompanying Committee report emphasizes the goal of addressing work barriers (e.g., fear of overpayments, benefit cliffs) and increasing work attachment among DI/SSI populations.

The bill includes oversight provisions and notes that the 234 demonstration authority had expired at the end of 2022 and is being temporarily reauthorized.

Note: The bill’s text references and supporting analysis indicate a focus on evaluating work-supportive policy changes while preventing reductions in participants’ total income during demonstrations.