Wichita Standard

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) led a Social Security Subcommittee hearing focused on challenges faced by Americans with disabilities or those receiving supplemental income who wish to work. The hearing took place shortly after the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act.

Estes, who has represented Kansas’ 4th district in Congress since 2017 and succeeded Mike Pompeo, opened the session by acknowledging members of the subcommittees and emphasizing his commitment to strengthening Social Security programs for all Americans, including people with disabilities.

"This year it has been my pleasure to work closely with Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, who we hosted here in June. And just this past Friday, the Commissioner came to Wichita where we held a productive meeting at the Social Security field office in my district," Estes said. He highlighted ongoing discussions about improving results for beneficiaries and expressed hope that the hearing would further strengthen collaboration between Congress and the Social Security Administration.

According to Estes, there are currently 1.7 million Americans absent from the workforce despite more than 7 million open jobs nationwide. He stressed the importance of utilizing all available talent pools, particularly individuals with disabilities: "One of the most valuable, yet underutilized, talent pools in our country is Americans with disabilities. Especially given that many individuals with disabilities want to work."

He noted that about 60 percent of recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) express interest in employment or career advancement. Estes stated, "I want to emphasize this is not about removing folks from their benefits. It’s about removing the barriers that hinder Americans with disabilities from renewing, strengthening, or forging a connection to the workforce."

The hearing aimed to highlight existing barriers within current return-to-work programs administered by the Social Security Administration and discuss potential improvements. Estes pointed out complexities in DI and SSI programs that often require third-party experts for navigation: "The reality is that for those who want to work, the current system is complex and full of red tape... The complexity, red tape, and need to rely on third-party experts just to navigate the rules is a massive obstacle for both individuals and employers."

Estes also mentioned administrative delays leading to overpayments when beneficiaries find employment—a problem he described as causing financial hardship.

He concluded by calling for modernization efforts: "This isn’t about altering the fundamental purpose of DI and SSI, but about modernizing our programs to work more effectively." He advocated for removing government barriers and streamlining communication so that more Americans could participate in the workforce.

During his remarks, Estes recognized Representative Danny Davis for nearly three decades of service in Congress.

Estes was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1956 and resides in Wichita. He holds a BS degree from Tennessee Technological University.