Editorial Notes
References in Text

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (d)(1), (5), is Pub. L. 93–112, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 355. Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 720 et seq.) of chapter 16 of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 701 of Title 29 and Tables.

The Public Health Service Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, 58 Stat. 682. Subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Act is classified generally to subpart II (§ 300x–21 et seq.) of part B of subchapter XVII of chapter 6A of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 201 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 114–74 inserted “, or the imposition of a civil monetary penalty under section 1320a–8 of this title,” after “conviction by a Federal court” in introductory provisions.

2004—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 108–203 added par. (5).

1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–170, § 101(b)(1)(B), struck out heading and text of subsec. (a). Text read as follows: “It is declared to be the policy of the Congress that disabled individuals applying for a determination of disability, and disabled individuals who are entitled to child’s insurance benefits, widow’s insurance benefits, or widower’s insurance benefits, shall be promptly referred to the State agency or agencies administering or supervising the administration of the State plan approved under title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for necessary vocational rehabilitation services, to the end that the maximum number of such individuals may be rehabilitated into productive activity.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–170, § 101(b)(1)(C), struck out heading and text of subsec. (b), which authorized deductions from payments under this subchapter up to amount of benefits on account of refusal without good cause to accept rehabilitation services, and authorized deductions from payments to husbands, wives, or children of individuals who refuse to accept such services with exception for children between 18 and 22 who are full-time students.

1996—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–121 added subsec. (e).

1994—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–296, § 201(a)(4)(B), inserted “(whether legal or illegal)” after “activity”.

Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary”.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), in closing provisions substituted “Commissioner of Social Security to reimburse” for “Secretary to reimburse”.

Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), which directed the amendment of this subchapter by substituting “the Commissioner” for “him” where such word referred to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, was executed in closing provisions by substituting “the Commissioner” for “him” where referring to the Commissioner of Social Security, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary” and “the Commissioner may” for “he may”.

Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary”.

1990—Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 101–508, § 5112(a)(1), substituted “in any period of 60 consecutive months” for “beginning on or after the first day of such period”.

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 101–508, § 5112(a)(2), struck out par. (5) which read as follows: “In the case of an individual who becomes entitled to benefits under section 423 of this title for any month as provided in clause (ii) of subsection (a)(1) of such section, the preceding provisions of this subsection shall not apply with respect to services in any month beginning with the first month for which he is so entitled and ending with the first month thereafter for which he is not entitled to benefits under section 423 of this title.”

1984—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, § 2663(a)(15)(A), substituted “title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973” for “the Vocational Rehabilitation Act”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 98–369, § 2663(a)(15)(B), substituted “equals” for “equal”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 98–369, § 2663(a)(15)(C), substituted “full-time elementary or secondary school student” for “full-time student”.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 98–460, § 11(a), in provisions following subpar. (D) struck out “into substantial gainful activity” after “rehabilitating such individuals”, designated existing provisions as cl. (i), added cls. (ii) and (iii), and substituted “of an individual to substantial gainful activity, the determination that an individual, without good cause, refused to continue to accept vocational rehabilitation services or failed to cooperate in such a manner as to preclude successful rehabilitation,” for “of such individuals to substantial gainful activity” after cl. (iii).

1983—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 98–21, § 309(l), substituted “, surviving divorced wife, or surviving divorced husband” for “or surviving divorced wife”.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–21, § 309(m), inserted “or father’s” after “mother’s” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 98–21, § 309(n), inserted “divorced husband,” after “husband,”.

1981—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35 substituted provisions authorizing the transfer of funds as may be necessary to enable the Secretary to reimburse the State for the reasonable and necessary costs of vocational rehabilitation, under a State plan approved under title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which results in performance of substantial gainful activity for a continuous period of nine months, with the determination that the vocational rehabilitation services contributed to the successful return to substantial gainful activity and the amount of costs to be reimbursed made by the Commissioner of Social Security for provisions authorizing the transfer of funds as may be necessary to enable the Secretary to pay the cost of vocational rehabilitation services, restricting the amount of such cost that may be expended in any one fiscal year, establishing specific criteria which a State plan must meet, and providing that the selection of individuals to receive services be made in conformance with criteria formulated by the Secretary.

1980—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 96–265, § 303(a)(1), inserted references to sections 402(e) and 402(f) of this title.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 96–265, § 303(a)(2), inserted reference to individuals entitled to widow’s or widower’s insurance benefits under section 402(e) or (f) of this title who became entitled to such benefits prior to attaining age 60.

1972—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 92–603, § 107(b)(3), substituted “a widow, widower or surviving divorced wife who has not attained age 60” or “a widow or surviving divorced wife who has not attained age 60, a widower who has not attained age 62”.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 92–603, §§ 107(b)(4), 131, substituted “age 60” for “age 62”, and inserted provisions increasing applicable percentages so that the total amount made available pursuant to subsec. (d) may not exceed 1.25 percent, in fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and 1.5 percent, in fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, and thereafter, of the total of the benefits under section 402(d) of this title for children who have attained age 18 and are under a disability.

1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–248, § 104(d)(3)(A), inserted “widow’s insurance benefits, or widower’s insurance benefits,” after “benefits,”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 90–248, § 104(d)(3)(B), substituted “child’s insurance benefits, a widow or surviving divorced wife who has not attained age 60, a widower who has not attained age 62, or” for “child’s insurance benefits or if”.

Subsec. (c)(4)(B). Pub. L. 90–248, § 158(c)(5), substituted reference to “423(d)” for “423(c)(2)”.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 90–248, § 104(d)(4), added subpars. (C) and (D), and inserted “the benefits under section 402(e) of this title for widows and surviving divorced wives who have not attained age 60 and are under a disability, the benefits under section 402(f) of this title for widowers who have not attained age 62,” after “disability,” in text following subpar. (D).

1965—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 89–97, § 308(d)(11), inserted “divorced wife,” after “wife,”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 89–97, § 306(c)(14), added par. (4).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 89–97, § 336, added subsec. (d).

1960—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 86–778 amended subsection generally by substituting provisions relating to period of trial work for provisions which related to services performed pursuant to a State-approved rehabilitation program.

1958—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–840 designated existing provisions thereof as par. (1) and added pars. (2) and (3).

1956—Subsec. (a). Act Aug. 1, 1956, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), authorized referral of disabled individuals who are entitled to child’s insurance benefits, and substituted “rehabilitated into productive activity” for “restored to productive activity”.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Act Aug. 1, 1956, added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–203, title II, § 208(b), Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 513, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to work activity performed after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 2, 2004].”

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–170 effective with the first month following one year after Dec. 17, 1999, subject to section 101(d) of Pub. L. 106–170, see section 101(c) of Pub. L. 106–170, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1320b–19 of this title.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–121 effective July 1, 1996, with respect to any individual whose claim for benefits is finally adjudicated on or after Mar. 29, 1996, or whose entitlement to benefits is based upon an entitlement redetermination made pursuant to section 105(a)(5)(C) of Pub. L. 104–121, see section 105(a)(5) of Pub. L. 104–121, as amended, set out as a note under section 405 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by section 107(a)(4) of Pub. L. 103–296 effective Mar. 31, 1995, see section 110(a) of Pub. L. 103–296, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Pub. L. 103–296, title II, § 201(a)(4)(C), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1499, provided that: “The amendments made by this paragraph [amending this section and section 423 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 15, 1994].”

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5112(b), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–273, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on January 1, 1992.”

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–460, § 11(c), Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1806, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1382d of this title] shall apply with respect to individuals who receive benefits as a result of section 225(b) or section 1631(a)(6) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 425(b), 1383(a)(6)], or who refuse to continue to accept rehabilitation services or fail to cooperate in an approved vocational rehabilitation program, in or after the first month following the month in which this Act is enacted [October 1984].”

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective July 18, 1984, but not to be construed as changing or affecting any right, liability, status, or interpretation which existed (under the provisions of law involved) before that date, see section 2664(b) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–21 applicable only with respect to monthly payments payable under this subchapter for months after April, 1983, see section 310 of Pub. L. 98–21, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–35, title XXII, § 2209(b), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 841, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to services rendered on or after October 1, 1981.”

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–265 effective on first day of sixth month which begins after June 9, 1980, and applicable to any individual whose disability has not been determined to have ceased prior to such first day, see section 303(d) of Pub. L. 96–265, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 92–603 applicable with respect to monthly benefits under this subchapter for months after Dec. 1972, with specified exceptions, see section 107(c) of Pub. L. 92–603, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by section 104(d)(3), (4) of Pub. L. 90–248 applicable with respect to monthly benefits under this subchapter for and after the month of February 1968, but only on the basis of applications for such benefits filed in or after January 1968, see section 104(e) of Pub. L. 90–248, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Amendment by section 158(c)(5) of Pub. L. 90–248 applicable with respect to applications for disability insurance benefits under section 423 of this title and to disability determinations under section 416(i) of this title, see section 158(e) of Pub. L. 90–248, set out as a note under section 423 of this title.

Effective Date of 1965 Amendment

Amendment by section 308(d)(11) of Pub. L. 89–97 applicable with respect to monthly insurance benefits under this subchapter beginning with the second month following July 1965, but, in the case of an individual who was not entitled to a monthly insurance benefit under section 402 of this title for the first month following July 1965, only on the basis of an application filed in or after July 1965, see section 308(e) of Pub. L. 89–97, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1960 Amendment

Pub. L. 86–778, title IV, § 403(e), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 969, provided that:

“(1)
The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be effective only with respect to months beginning after the month in which this Act is enacted [September 1960].
“(2)
The amendments made by subsections (b) and (d) [amending sections 423 and 402 of this title] shall apply only with respect to benefits under section 223(a) or 202(d) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 423(a), 402(d)] for months after the month in which this Act is enacted in the case of individuals who, without regard to such amendments, would have been entitled to such benefits for the month in which this Act is enacted or for any succeeding month.
“(3)
The amendment made by subsection (c) [amending section 416 of this title] shall apply only in the case of individuals who have a period of disability (as defined in section 216(i) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 416(i)]) beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 13, 1960], or beginning before such date and continuing, without regard to such amendment, beyond the end of the month in which this Act is enacted.”

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by section 205(n) of Pub. L. 85–840 applicable with respect to monthly benefits under this subchapter for months after August 1958, but only if an application for such benefits is filed on or after August 28, 1958, see section 207(a) of Pub. L. 85–840, set out as a note under section 416 of this title.

Pub. L. 85–840, title III, § 307(h)(3), Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 1033, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (g) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to monthly benefits under section 202 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 402] for months, occurring after the month in which this Act is enacted [August 1958], in which a deduction is incurred under paragraph (1) of section 222(b) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 422(b)(1)].”