RELEASE: HILL, CAREY, DAVIDS, DINGELL, AND MALLIOTAKIS INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT HIRING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

The following information was released by the office of Arkansas Rep. French Hill:

Today, 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) introduced the Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries as an eligible targeted group. WOTC is a tax credit available to employers who hire and employ individuals from certain groups who may face barriers to employment.

Congressman 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."

Congressman Mike Carey said , " 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."

Congresswoman Sharice Davids said, "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."

Congresswoman 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."

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis said, "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 supports the HIRE Act , writing, "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 overlookedengaging 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."

Background

The Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act supports individuals with disabilities who want to work by adding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients to the list of eligible targeted groups that qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

WOTC is an existing federal tax credit available to employers who hire American job seekers who have consistently faced barriers to employment, if the individual is in a WOTC-targeted group. These targeted groups already include:

Veterans

Formerly incarcerated individuals

Those experiencing long-term unemployment

Supplemental Security Income recipients

With WOTC currently set to expire on January 1, 2026, this legislation would extend the program for five years and add SSDI beneficiaries to the list of eligible groups.

The HIRE Act incentivizes employers to hire WOTC-eligible workers by subsidizing a portion of an eligible employee's wages during the first year of work.

This helps offset perceived risks associated with hiring workers who may need additional support or who have been out of the labor market for long periods, which is common among SSDI beneficiaries.

In turn, Americans with disabilities gain more opportunities to work, receive support to succeed, and are afforded the chance to build fuller, more secure lives.