YourVoice.Now Summary
Average Household ImpactTransparency & AccountabilitySocial Security could restart expired pilot projects testing ways for disabled workers to return to work.
Average Household Impact
- Income protection for participants — Total income may not fall because someone joins a project
- Demonstration authority — Restored through 2030 after lapsing in 2022
Transparency & Accountability
- Congressional notice — Extended from 90 to 120 days before a project starts
- Evaluation metrics — Each project notice must state how results will be measured
- Program sunset — Authority to run projects ends December 31, 2031
The details
Social Security could again test new ways to help disabled workers get back to a job. The agency's authority to run these pilot projects expired in 2022. It would return and last through 2030, with projects wrapping up by the end of 2031. The demonstrations let the agency waive normal disability rules to see what actually helps people work. A new protection would apply to everyone who takes part. No participant's total income could fall because they joined a project. The agency would have to give Congress 120 days notice before starting one, up from 90. Each notice would also have to spell out how the project will be measured. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Congressional Summary
Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans ActThis bill reauthorizes through 2031 the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) authority to carry out demonstration projects within the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. The bill also imposes requirements related to beneficiary income, project funding, and SSA reporting.SSDI demonstration projects must be designed to promote attachment to the workforce and generally involve temporary changes to SSDI policies tested on a subset of beneficiaries. Participation in a demonstration project must be voluntary. SSA’s authority to carry out these projects expired on December 31, 2022.Under the bill, SSA must ensure that an individual’s participation in a demonstration project does not reduce their total income. Further, the bill specifies that administrative expenses related to demonstration projects must be paid from funds appropriated for administration.Finally, the bill requires SSA to report to Congress 120 days before initiating a demonstration project. This is an increase from 90 days under current law. This advance notification must include evaluation metrics for the relevant project.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-07-13
- Date Added
- 2026-07-23
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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