A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. French Hill (AR-02), Rep. Mike Carey (OH-15), Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), has introduced the Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act. The proposed legislation seeks to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) by adding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries as a targeted group eligible for the credit.
The WOTC is a federal tax credit available to employers who hire individuals from certain groups that face barriers to employment, such as veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, those experiencing long-term unemployment, and Supplemental Security Income recipients.
Rep. French Hill said, “People with disabilities deserve a fair shot at meaningful work, but the current SSDI system makes it harder for them to find a job. The HIRE Act gives employers an incentive to hire SSDI beneficiaries and provides those who want to work with the opportunity to enter the workforce. Our bill is a commonsense and practical solution that will help employers hire qualified workers and help people build purpose, community, and economic independence.”
Rep. Mike Carey stated, “Earlier this year, I joined my Ways and Means colleagues in a hearing to understand the benefits of employment for individuals with disabilities and explore how we can make it easier for them to find employment. Today, I’m proud to join this bipartisan legislation that helps offer career paths for individuals with disabilities and supports the employers that make it possible.”
Rep. Sharice Davids commented, “All Kansans deserve the chance to build a stable, fulfilling life, including folks with disabilities. This bipartisan effort helps open more doors to meaningful employment and strengthens our workforce and communities in the process.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell said, “Individuals with disabilities deserve equal access to opportunity in every area of life, especially in job and career opportunities. Expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include SSDI recipients will help strengthen our workforce and enable more Americans with disabilities to pursue meaningful employment.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis added, “I join my colleagues in introducing the Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act. Our bipartisan legislation will extend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for five years to help individuals, including veterans and individuals with disabilities, rejoin the workforce. This program incentivizes businesses to hire individuals who have consistently faced barriers to employment. Since 2021, this program has assisted over 100,000 individuals in New York, per year, in rejoining the workforce.”
SourceAmerica expressed support for the bill: “This bill will ensure the availability of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Passage of the HIRE Act will incentivize businesses and nonprofit employers to hire more people with disabilities, including veterans, who continue to be an underutilized part of the American workforce.”
Jim Allsup, CEO of Allsup Employment Services said: “When the Ticket to Work Program was created to help SSDI beneficiaries return to work and move toward financial independence, one critical element was overlooked—engaging employers. The HIRE Act helps close that gap by bringing businesses into the process and encouraging them to hire former workers seeking a path back to self-sufficiency.”
If enacted into law before its scheduled expiration on January 1, 2026,the WOTC would be extended by five years while expanding eligibility criteria.French Hill is currently serving as U.S Representative for Arkansas’s Second District, having taken office in 2015.He was born in Little Rock in 1956.Hill graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1975.
The HIRE Act aims not only at supporting Americans with disabilities entering or returning into jobs but also offers wage subsidies during their first year of employment.This provision is intended both as an incentive for employers concerned about hiring workers needing additional support or those absent from workforces for extended periods.
For further details on benefits or full text of this bill see official resources.
