Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act
Sponsored By: Representative Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
Introduced
Summary
Would let disability benefits tied to a Purple Heart continue past the usual cutoff while pairing continued payments with earnings-based rules to encourage work. It would allow those monthly insurance benefits to remain payable after the normal termination month but reduce each month's payment by $1 for every $4 of earnings that exceed a month-specific threshold tied to substantial gainful activity (SGA).
Show full summary
- Purple Heart recipients with qualifying service-connected disabilities would keep receiving monthly Social Security disability insurance beyond the usual stop date, but benefits for months with earnings would be offset by $1 for every $4 above a monthly SGA threshold.
- Working beneficiaries would be eligible for the higher SGA amount if their disability is attributable to an injury for which they were awarded the Purple Heart, letting them earn more before SSA treats work as substantial gainful activity.
- Individuals who would also receive a section 202 benefit based on the same wages or self-employment income would see that section 202 portion reduced in the same proportion for any month the Purple Heart benefit is offset.
- The changes would apply to benefits payable for months beginning after six months from enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
SSDI work rules for Purple Heart veterans
This bill would change Social Security disability rules for Purple Heart recipients. It would let Purple Heart recipients who get SSDI keep their entitlement past the normal termination month. Payments for any month you earn more than the applicable SGA amount would be cut $1 for every $4 in monthly earnings above that SGA threshold, but not below $0. If you would also get a Social Security retirement benefit that month, that retirement benefit would be reduced by the same proportion. The bill would also let qualifying Purple Heart SSDI recipients use the higher SGA earnings amount now available to blind beneficiaries. These changes would apply to benefits payable for months beginning 6 months after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
GA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Turner (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
MS • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Mills
FL • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Hudson
NC • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
SC • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]
TN • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28]
FL • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov