House of Representatives Passes Blind persons Earnings Fairness Act

On May 1, the United States House of Representatives passed the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act. Introduced by Rep. John Lewis, (D. Georgia), this act would allow blind workers to earn more money while continuing to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

In 1996, Congress increased the earnings limit for working senior citizens receiving Social Security. Unfortunately, Congress chose not to give blind SSDI recipient’s similar increases. Since this change in the law, the earnings limit for seniors has been increased so that in 2008 a working senior may earn up to 36,120 with no effect on Social Security benefits. In 2008, blind SSDI recipients earning more than $18,840 stand to lose all of their SSDI benefits.

When Blind SSDI recipients reach the age of 62, the more generous senior earnings limits apply.

Current law tends to discourage Blind persons from seeking employment. This is especially the case for blind workers earning between $20,000 and $30,000 annually. Having a greater number of dependents further exacerbates this problem since SSDI benefits are higher for recipients with dependents.

If enacted, the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act would increase the earnings limit for blind SSDI recipients over a five-year period until it is equal to the earnings limit for seniors. This would encourage more blind persons to seek employment and become taxpayers. This law would improve quality of life for blind persons while helping more blind persons to become productive members of society. Eventually, many who find work will become successful, earn higher incomes and no longer need SSDI benefits.

The Blind Persons Earnings Fairness act now awaits Senate action. Senators Chris Dodd, (D. Connecticut), and John McCain, (R. Arizona) are the lead sponsors for this bill in the Senate, (S 2559). I encourage all of you to contact your senators and ask them to either co-sponsor or support S 2559. AT this point the bill has only six co-sponsors.

To contact your senators, go to thomas.loc.gov. For more information on the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act, try the following websites. summary of Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act – 19k.
Or www.nfb.org.

While the National Federation of the Blind provided much of the advocacy to get this bill introduced in this Congressional session, both NFB and the American Council of the Blind have worked long and hard on this issue for over ten years. This is reflected in legislative priorities and resolutions passed at conventions of both organizations. Passing this bill will bring us one step closer to lowering the terribly high unemployment rate for blind Americans.