ND Medicaid 1619(b) Threshold for 2011

State 1619(b) Medicaid threshold amounts for calendar year 2011 have been published.

The North Dakota Threshold for 2011 is $38,049.

Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act provides one of the most powerful work incentives currently available for SSI recipients: continued Medicaid eligibility for working individuals whose earned income is too high to qualify for SSI cash payments, but not high enough to offset the loss of Medicaid. The Social Security Administration uses a threshold amount to measure whether an individual’s earnings are high enough to replace his/her Medicaid benefits.

Source: POMS SI 02302.200

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

2010 1619(b) ND Medicaid Threshold for 2010

State 1619(b) Medicaid threshold amounts for calendar year 2010 our out.

"North Dakota Threshold for 2010 is $36,082"

1619(b) provides that if your earned income (after the applicable exclusions) is too high to permit a SSI cash benefit, you will still be eligible for Medicaid.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

1619(b) Threshold for 2009

Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act is one of the most powerful work incentives currently available for recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It provides continued Medicaid eligibility for a working individual whose earned income is too high to qualify for SSI cash payments, but not high enough to offset the loss of Medicaid.

The SSA uses the “threshold” concept to measure whether an individual has sufficient earnings to replace Medicaid. For calendar year 2008, the threshold is $37,917 for a resident of North Dakota who is eligible for SSI. This threshold is $38,040 for 2009.

Therefore, if the earned income of the SSI recipient is the reason that he/she no longer receives SSI payments but his/her earned income is under $37,917 in 2008 and $38,040 in 2009, he/she can still keep Medicaid coverage. This is the general rule. For more information, please contact your Community Work Incentives Coordinator.



Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

SSI: "I Can Make What!?!?"

As a CWIC, I answer daily the question: "I'm on SSI...so how much can I make." Individuals are often pleasantly surprised when I tell them that the upper threshold in ND is $37,917.

Most people don’t know this number, or its significance. This is the threshold amount for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for 2008. What does this mean? It means that someone with a disability who is receiving SSI can have an annual countable income of $37,917 – and remain eligible for SSI and, by default, Medicaid via 1619(b).

Much concern over earning limitations and work “dis-incentives” for Social Security beneficiaries has caused great fear to all involved. When people focus on these lower limits and not the upper thresholds, it tends to result in a depressing realization that work opportunities will be limited for the rest of their lives.

Lets face it. In ND, $37,917 per year is far from “scraping by”. What may create concern however when earning capacity reaches this level for a beneficiary is the chance of exceeding the SSI asset limit of $2000 (single).

Knowing current SSI asset exclusions such as a home, can not only allow beneficiaries to continue earning a living wage but also to invest that excess income. Retaining SSI eligibility and Medicaid while building equity at the same time can greatly increase one’s capacity to become self sufficient and independent of SSA benefits.

Further in-depth analysis of the advantages of home ownership and how SSA benefits can play a role in achieving those goals will be a topic for a future article.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com