One of the biggest concerns SSI recipients have about going to work is the possibility of losing Medicaid coverage. Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act provides some protection for these recipients. To qualify for continuing Medicaid coverage, a person must:

• Have been eligible for an SSI cash payment for at least 1 month; and
• Still meet the disability requirement; and
• Still meet all other non-disability SSI requirements; and
• Need Medicaid benefits to continue to work; and
• Have gross earnings that are insufficient to replace SSI, Medicaid and publicly funded attendant care services.

This means that SSI recipients who have earnings too high for an SSI cash payment may be eligible for Medicaid if they meet the above requirements. Social Security uses a threshold amount to measure whether a person’s earnings are high enough to replace his/her SSI and Medicaid benefits.

For more information, including the threshold amounts for each State, please see: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/ResourcesToolkit/Health/1619b.html