H.R. 1175 — Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025

This section establishes the short title of the Act as the “Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025.”

This section establishes a 20-year demonstration project for blind Americans under Title II of the Social Security Act, to begin not later than 180 days after enactment, and applies to individuals entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits under section 223(a)(1) during the first 120 months of the project whose disability is blindness. As background, SSDI provides monthly cash benefits to workers with qualifying disabilities. The project modifies SSDI for covered blind beneficiaries by: (1) determining disability without regard to substantial gainful activity; (2) reducing monthly benefits by $1 for every $2 of earnings above the section 223(d)(4)(A) exempt amount plus impairment-related work expenses, but not below $0; (3) prohibiting termination of entitlement based on earnings from services; (4) eliminating the trial work period under section 222(c); and (5) making the section 223(a)(1) termination-month rules inapplicable. Thus, the project allows blind beneficiaries to work while retaining benefits under a new earnings-offset structure rather than losing entitlement. This section also authorizes the Commissioner of Social Security to waive compliance with certain Title II benefit requirements and section 1148 requirements, as necessary to carry out the demonstration project, and permits eligible individuals to opt out after the initial 120-month period.