U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) reintroduced a bill that seeks to amend the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program.
The Social Security Disability Insurance Return to Work Act (H.R. 6428) would require the Social Security Administration (SSA) to establish new disability classifications that will determine a beneficiary’s likelihood of medically improving. If the SSDI beneficiary has a chance of medically improving, the bill asks the SSA to conduct continuing reviews that will determine the beneficiary’s need to continue receiving SSDI benefits.
It would also require the SSA commissioner to advertise the Ticket to Work Program to SSDI beneficiaries at the time they are awarded benefits and every six months thereafter. In addition, it would amend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) — a federal tax credit available to employers — to include qualified SSDI beneficiaries.
“Since entering Congress, I have been a strong advocate for strengthening SSDI to keep it financially secure for those who need the benefits and to incentivize those who don’t to return to work. Every American and Arkansan has the capacity to productively contribute to their community and support our economy. My bill jumpstarts that by encouraging capable beneficiaries to regain their independence,” Hill said.
This is the fifth time that Hill has introduced this legislation since he joined the House, dating back to 2016. Each time it was introduced, it was not approved in Congress.
Hill said 140,000 people in Arkansas receive benefits through the program. Since 1970, the SSDI program has grown from $3 billion to $146 billion, and the number of beneficiaries has grown from 2.7 million to almost 9 million.