Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4947
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Social Welfare
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-22T16:45:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation reauthorizes and extends the Social Security Administration’s authority to conduct demonstration projects under the disability insurance program. These projects test ways to reduce barriers to employment for individuals receiving disability benefits.
Key Provisions
- Extends the deadline for initiating new demonstration projects to December 31, 2030, and the termination date for ongoing projects to December 31, 2031.
- Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide 120 days’ advance notice to Congress before starting a project (previously 90 days) and to include evaluation metrics in that notice.
- Specifies that administrative costs for these projects come from general administrative funds, while benefit payments are drawn from the appropriate trust fund.
- Adds a new requirement that participants’ total income cannot decrease as a result of involvement in a demonstration project.
- Makes minor technical corrections to existing statutory language.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill updates section 234 of the Social Security Act by lengthening the reauthorization period by approximately nine years. It also strengthens participant protections by mandating income safeguards and clearer evaluation standards, and it clarifies funding sources for both administrative and benefit expenses.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Social Security Administration gains extended flexibility to test employment-support programs but must meet additional reporting and evaluation requirements.
- Citizens: Individuals with disabilities may have more opportunities to participate in work-related experiments without risking reduced total income.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Social Security Administration (responsible for administering projects).
- Individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
- Congress (receives advance notice and evaluation data).
- The Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (source of benefit payments).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure expands administrative authority within an existing statutory framework without altering benefit eligibility rules or creating new entitlements. The income-protection provision adds a statutory safeguard not previously present. The delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, provides time for planning before the extended authority begins.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2026-07-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act — issued 2026-07-13 — PDF (3 pages)