H.R. 10659: Removing Access Barriers to Running for Elected Office for People with Disabilities Act

This bill would create a rule saying that if a person with a qualifying disability runs for elected office, the work they do on their campaign and any money they earn from that campaign would not count when government agencies decide whether they can keep certain benefits.

What counts as covered

• The bill applies to a qualified individual, meaning someone who gets disability-based benefits under Social Security disability programs.
• The protected activity is campaign work, which the bill defines as work done by someone as a candidate for federal, state, or local elected office.

What changes under the bill

• For purposes of deciding eligibility for, and the amount of, benefits or assistance, the government would ignore:
  • the fact that the person is doing campaign work, and
  • any compensation they receive for that work.
• This applies to:
  • federal benefit programs, and
  • state or local programs that are partly or fully funded by federal money.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill is meant to let people with disabilities run for office without having that campaign activity treated like work that could reduce or cut off their disability-related benefits. It removes a barrier that might otherwise discourage someone from campaigning while receiving those benefits.

Relevant Companies

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