Betsy Rosecan, NOSSCR Government Relations Director

On December 9, 2025, Representatives French Hill (R-AR), Mike Carey (R-OH), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) announced the introduction of the Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act, which is currently awaiting a bill number. The bipartisan legislation would expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries as an eligible targeted group. WOTC is a federal tax credit available to employers who hire individuals who face barriers to employment; the bill would add SSDI recipients to that list and extend the credit for an additional five years.

If enacted, the HIRE Act would provide employers with a wage-based tax credit for hiring SSDI beneficiaries during their first year of employment, with the goal of increasing workforce participation among individuals with disabilities. The measure is intended to help offset employers’ perceived risks associated with hiring individuals who may have been out of the labor force for extended periods and to support SSDI beneficiaries seeking to return to work.

Bill Details

The full text of the bill can be seen here.

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