Removing Access Barriers to Running for Elected Office for People with Disabilities Act
Sponsored By: Representative Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
Introduced
Summary
Protects disability benefits for people who run for public office. This bill would disregard campaign work and any pay from that work when federal or federally funded programs determine eligibility or calculate benefits for people who qualify for disability under the Social Security Act.
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- People with disabilities who receive Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income could run for office or do campaign work without that activity or pay reducing their benefits.
- State and local programs that are funded in whole or in part with federal money would have to ignore campaign work and compensation when deciding eligibility and benefit amounts.
- The change lowers the practical risk that running for office will cost disabled candidates their safety net, which can increase political participation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Protect disability benefits for candidates
If enacted, campaign work and pay would be ignored when deciding your eligibility for, and the amount of, SSDI or SSI benefits. This would apply to any Federal program and to State or local programs funded in whole or in part with Federal funds. It would only apply to people who are entitled to Title II (Social Security Disability Insurance) or Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits because of a disability. Campaign work would mean work you do as a candidate for elected Federal, State, or local office.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/1/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 10/1/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov