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

Increase in the Medically Needy Income Level

Certain people who are blind, disabled, or aged may qualify for Medicaid as part of the medically needy group. However, unlike individuals who are categorically eligible for Medicaid (such as SSI recipients), persons within the medically needy group can incur recipient liability.

Recipient liability is the amount the eligible persons are responsible to pay toward their medical expenses for the month. Recipient liability is based on the monthly income of the members of the Medicaid unit, and it is similar to the deductible amount in an insurance policy.

The Medically Needy Income Level establishes the amount of income that individuals, couples, and families may keep to meet their maintenance needs without having recipient liability. Before July 1, 2009, the Medically Needy Income Level was $500 per month for a one-person household and $516 per month for a household of two persons.

As of July 1, 2009, this income level is $750 per month for a one-person household and $1,008 per month for a two-person household. See the following chart for the income levels for households consisting of more than two persons.

Number of Persons	Monthly Income Level
1	$750
2	1008
3	1267
4	1526
5	1784
6	2043
7	2302
8	2560
Effective July 1, 2009

For each person in the medically needy unit above eight, add $259 to the monthly amount.

This information was obtained from section 510-05-85-40(2) of the Medicaid Program Policy Manual.

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

2009 ND Medicaid Thresholds

IM 5062 ATTACHED CHART 2009 Medicaid Income Level Chart - Effective 04-01-09

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

WWD Income Level for 2009

Effective April 1, 2009, the income level for eligibility for Workers with Disabilities (WWD) coverage is $2,031 per month for one individual. This is an increase of $81 over the 2008 level of $1,950 per month. Source: IM #5062 to the Medicaid Program Policy Manual.

Income for WWD eligibility purposes is the net amount that remains after certain disregards and deductions are subtracted from gross income. For more detail, see the entry dated March 5, 2008, under the WWD topic of this blog

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