Social Security assistance and representation grants

(a) In general For each fiscal year during the 5-year period beginning with fiscal year 2026, the Commissioner shall award not less than 10 grants under this section to community-based organizations for the purpose of assisting individuals with disabilities— (1) during the process of applying for benefits under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381 et seq.) on the basis of a disability; (2) any appeals processes before the Commissioner, an administrative judge of the Social Security Administration, or a State Disability Determination Services office; and (3) in accessing such benefits. (b) Grant requirements (1) Duration and amount of grants A grant awarded to a community-based organization under this section— (A) shall be for an amount that is not less than $500,000; and (B) shall be for a period of 5 years. (2) Use of funds Grant funds shall only be used for a purpose described in subsection (a). (c) Application (1) In general To receive a grant under this section, a community-based organization shall submit an application to the Commissioner, at such time and in such form and manner and accompanied by such information and assurances as the Commissioner may require. (2) Required information An application for a grant under this section shall include the following information: (A) The region to be served by the applicant. (B) A description of the needs of beneficiaries with a disability in such region. (C) A description of services to be provided under such grant. (D) The personnel that would provide such services. (E) The applicant's plan for disseminating awareness of the services provided under the grant to beneficiaries with a disability in the region. (3) Memorandum of understanding An application for a grant under this section shall include a memorandum of understanding among any collaborating entities as to roles and allocation of grant funds for each collaborating agency. (4) Assurance of availability An application for a grant under this section shall include a commitment by the applicant that all services provided under the grant, including information about such services, shall be accessible to beneficiaries with a disability. (d) Definitions (1) Beneficiary with a disability The term beneficiary with a disability has the meaning given such term in section 1150D of the Social Security Act (as added by section 14). (2) Commissioner The term Commissioner means the Commissioner of Social Security. (3) Community-based organization The term community-based organization means a non-profit agency or collaboration of non-profit agencies that— (A) serves a region of one or more States; (B) includes— (i) a legal team of lawyers licensed to practice in the State or States served by the organization; (ii) experts in disability benefits provided under title II and XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381 et seq.), including application, and appeals procedures under such titles; and (iii) individuals currently receiving benefits on the basis of a disability under such a title, or who were beneficiaries under such a title on the basis of a disability within the past 5 years; and (C) is overseen by a board or advisory group composed of at least 1/3 members who are current or former beneficiaries on the basis of a disability under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act. (4) State The term State means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (e) Appropriation There is appropriated to the Commissioner, for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, $15,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out this section. (f) Reports (1) In general Each community-based organization that receives a grant under this sections shall provide the Commissioner with— (A) for each year of the grant period, an annual report on the services provided; and (B) at the conclusion of the grant period, a final report of activities provided under the grant. (2) Evaluation grant From the administrative funds of title II and title XVI, there shall be awarded an evaluation grant to an independent entity to evaluate the impact of the grants under this section. The amount to be awarded to the evaluation entity shall be at least $500,000 for each of the 5 years of the grant period and at least $500,000 for the 2 years following the grant period.