US House passes H.R. 8884 to test SSDI work reforms and help disabled Americans return to employment safely.
The House of Representatives took a decisive step this week to empower Americans with disabilities who want to work. House lawmakers passed legislation that renews the Social Security Administration’s ability to test practical reforms and remove the bureaucratic traps that keep too many people on the sidelines. H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, sponsored by Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., cleared the House by a vote of 232-188. The measure now moves to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Finance.
At its core, the bill reauthorizes the Social Security Administration’s authority to conduct demonstration projects under the Social Security Disability Insurance program through December 31, 2030, with projects able to run until the end of 2031. The projects allow the SSA to temporarily test changes in program rules designed to encourage beneficiaries who are able and willing to return to the workforce. Participation is strictly voluntary, and the legislation requires that no participant see a reduction in their total income.