S 2559
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2559
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to increase the
level of earnings under which no individual who is blind is determined
to have demonstrated an ability to engage in substantial gainful activity
for purposes of determining disability.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 25, 2008
Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. MCCAIN) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to increase the
level of earnings under which no individual who is blind is determined
to have demonstrated an ability to engage in substantial gainful activity
for purposes of determining disability.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act of
2008'.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AMOUNT DEMONSTRATING SUBSTANTIAL GAINFUL ACTIVITY
IN THE CASE OF BLIND INDIVIDUALS.
(a) In General- Section 223(d)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
423(d)(4)) is amended--
(1) by striking the second sentence of subparagraph (A); and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(C) No individual who is blind shall be regarded as having demonstrated
an ability to engage in substantial gainful activity on the basis of
monthly earnings in any taxable year that do not exceed an amount equal
to--
`(i) in the case of earnings in the taxable year beginning after December
31, 2007, and before January 1, 2009, $1,800 per month;
`(ii) in the case of earnings in the taxable year beginning after
December 31, 2008, and before January 1, 2010, $2,200 per month;
`(iii) in the case of earnings in the taxable year beginning after
December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, $2,500 per month;
`(iv) in the case of earnings in the taxable year beginning after
December 31, 2010, and before January 1, 2012, $2,850 per month; and
`(v) in the case of earnings in a taxable year beginning after December
31, 2011, the exempt amount applicable under section 203(f)(8) to
an individual who has attained retirement age (as defined in section
216(l)) before the close of the taxable year involved.'.
(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply
to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.
END
