The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Austin Scott in the U.S. House aims to adjust Social Security disability benefits for recipients of the Purple Heart, according to the U.S. Congress.
H.R.7120 was introduced on Jan. 15, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to amend the Social Security Act to establish a disability benefit offset for recipients of the Purple Heart. Specifically, it allows these individuals to continue receiving their monthly insurance benefits without regard to their termination month if their disability is linked to their Purple Heart injury. The bill stipulates that benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $4 earned over a specified threshold, ensuring that benefits do not drop below zero. It also applies a higher substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount for Purple Heart recipients. The amendments will take effect for benefits payable starting six months after the law is enacted.
The bill was introduced only by Rep. Austin Scott (Republican-GA-8th District).
Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Scott has introduced another three bills.
Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.
Austin Scott is a Representative from Georgia, serving in Congress since January 3, 2011. He previously served in the Georgia state house of representatives from 1997 to 2010 and holds a B.B.A. from the University of Georgia, earned in 1993.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| H.R.7120 | 01/15/2026 | Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act |
| H.R.6598 | 12/10/2025 | Commodity Futures Trading Commission Research and Development Modernization Act of 2025 |
| H.R.6019 | 11/12/2025 | To repeal certain provisions relating to notification to Senate offices regarding legal process on disclosure of Senate data, and for other purposes. |
| H.R.2345 | 03/25/2025 | Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act |
Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.
