[NFBMO] FW: Providing Incentives to let the blind go back to work

[Gary Wunder]

From: Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net> 
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2025 4:49 PM
To: Matt.Alvero at mail.house.gov
Subject: Providing Incentives to let the blind go back to work

 

Dear Mr. Alvero:

I write with the sincere hope that you will ask Representative Alford to
support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175. Currently I know
blind people who are afraid to go to work because of the penalty of going
even one dollar over the substantial gainful activity limit, being
disqualified as a recipient of their monthly check, but many times receiving
it for months or even years before an overpayment is judged to have
occurred. If it is determined that I made too much in March 2023, everything
I have been paid since then is due. I also know of people who are placed in
the uncomfortable position of refusing raises and even promotions because
they know this will place them above the monthly earnings limit, and their
raise or promotion will in no way equal what they get through payment by
their job and the disability insurance payments they are receiving.

The proposal I am asking you to support is simple. If a blind recipient
earns more than the allowed monthly earnings limit, the amount of their
check is reduced by one dollar for every two dollars they earn. This would
be a tremendous incentive to people I know and would be much fairer than the
system as it now exists. Though it is probably not the intent, the result is
punitive. We can and should change it.

I will appreciate a response to this request, and please do me the honor of
making it relevant to the subject. Recently I got a letter from one of our
senators that essentially said "Thank you for writing me about the issue
that is of importance to you. It is always great to have constituent input.
If your issue makes it to the floor, I will consider your position." I am
looking for something that says Representative Alford can and will support,
or reasons why he cannot. Perhaps we can engage in some dialogue that will
either alter the proposal or give him evidence he needs to be a supporter.

I thank you for reading my letter and express even greater appreciation for
the action I hope you will take on it.

 

Sincerely,

 

Gary Wunder  

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/attachments/20250926/a08dc90b/attachment.htm>