HR8884-119

What This Bill Does

The Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act reopens Social Security disability insurance demonstration-project authority that had expired. It changes the deadline for authorizing experiments and demonstration projects to December 31, 2030, and terminates project authority on December 31, 2031. It extends the advance notice period from 90 days to 120 days and requires notices to include evaluation metrics along with expected annual and total costs.

The bill clarifies that administrative costs for section 234 experiments are paid from Social Security administration funds, while benefits paid because of project participation come from the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or Disability Insurance Trust Fund as the Commissioner determines. It also adds a participant protection: an individual's total income may not be reduced because of participation in a demonstration project. The amendments take effect January 1, 2027.

Who Benefits and How

Disability insurance beneficiaries benefit from renewed demonstration authority and a statutory protection against lower total income due to participation. Workers with disabilities benefit if SSA uses the authority to test work-incentive or return-to-work reforms. SSA demonstration staff benefit from authority through 2030 and clearer funding rules. Researchers evaluating disability policy benefit because project notices must include evaluation metrics. Congressional oversight committees benefit from longer notice and better cost and metric information.

Who Bears the Burden and How

SSA must design demonstration projects, provide 120-day notices, include evaluation metrics, and protect participant income. Social Security trust funds may pay benefits tied to demonstration participation. SSA administrative budgets must cover project administration. The Commissioner must decide whether benefits are paid from the OASI or DI Trust Fund. Demonstration operators must verify that participants' total income is not reduced.

Key Provisions

• Extends Social Security disability demonstration-project authority through December 31, 2030.
• Extends project termination authority through December 31, 2031.
• Requires 120-day notices and evaluation metrics for experiments and demonstrations.
• Clarifies administrative and benefit payment sources for demonstration projects.
• Protects participants from reductions in total income due to project participation.