My colleague Mark Mehlhoff wrote a nice synopses regarding calculating income when applying for the WWD. What follows is a condensed version. Please email either Mark or I for the full document complete with examples, alternate thresholds and POMS references.
Terry Peterson
Income Limit for Workers with Disabilities Coverage
Workers with Disabilities (WWD) coverage is a work incentive available in North Dakota for individuals with disabilities. It allows eligible individuals with disabilities who are gainfully employed to “buy into” Medicaid health care coverage by paying a monthly premium.
To be financially eligible for WWD, the income of an individual and of his/her family must be less than 225 percent of the federal poverty level. This converts to a current income level of $1,914 per month for a unit of one person. The income level will be $1,950 per month for a one-person unit effective April 1, 2008.
Certain disregards and deductions are subtracted from gross income to arrive at net income for WWD purposes. The income deductions that are allowed in determining eligibility for WWD include the following:
A deduction of $20 per month subtracted from any income, but first from unearned income.
Deductions of $65, plus one-half of the remaining monthly earned income, both subtracted from gross earned income.
Example
Earl is a single person, and he resides alone in his house. He receives Social Security Disability Insurance benefits in the amount of $1,100 per month. Earl is currently employed and earns $935 per month. His gross income is therefore $2,035 per month. After applying the income deductions, his net income is just $1,515 per month, and he is therefore eligible for WWD.
Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com
Posts
Mark and Terry-
ReplyDeleteAs I travel across the state to participate in workshops and conferences, I repeatedly hear from providers that the Workers With Disabilities Buy-In prorgam is one of their most highly recommended services to working individuals with disabilities. At last count, nearly 500 working individuals in ND participate in the Buy-In. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Lisa.
ReplyDeleteWe came up with this "review" of the WWD income calculation policy to help address people's questions about eligibility for the program.
The full article is available upon request which would be beneficial for anybody who may have been wrongly denied access to the program due to the mis-application of the earned income disregards.