MaineCare Option for Workers with Disabilities

Updated for 2008

Did you know?
Maine has a MaineCare Option for
Workers with Disabilities.

This option allows you to earn more and still keep your MaineCare benefits.

You may qualify for this MaineCare Option if:

You meet the Social Security guidelines for a disability; and
You have earnings, usually from a job; and
You meet these financial guidelines:

If you are single:

Your monthly income from retirement, Social Security or other income that is not wages from a job must be $867 or less after deductions. (Not all income is counted - income could be as high as $941 a month)
Your wages from a job, added to the income that is not from a job, must be $2,167 or less after deductions. (Not all income is counted - income could be as high as $4,527 a month)
And your assets are $8,000 or less. (Not all assets are counted. For example, your home, car and some savings are not counted.)

If you are married:

Your monthly income from retirement, Social Security or other income that is not wages from a job must be $1,167 or less after deductions. (Not all income is counted - income could be as high as $1,266 a month)
Your wages from a job, added to the income that is not from a job, must be $2,917 or less after deductions. (Not all income is counted - income could be as high as $6,075 a month)
And your assets are $12,000 or less. (Not all assets are counted. For example, your home, car and some savings are not counted.)

If you meet the three guidelines listed above, you may be eligible for MaineCare through this option.

Even if you income is above these amounts, you may still be able to get MaineCare. Not all income is counted. Contact your local Department of Health and Human Services or a Benefits Specialist to see if you qualify.

What will it cost?
There will be no cost until your income is over $1,300 a month, if you are single. Above that, you pay $10-$20 a month. There is no cost if you are paying your Medicare Part B premium ($96.40/month)

The two examples below show eligibility tests for this option. Call the local office of the Department of Health and Human Services to see how this might work for you. Ask about the Option that allows workers with disabilities to work and keep their MaineCare benefits.

EXAMPLE #1 - A single person with a disability receives both earned and unearned income. Is this person eligible?
Step #1 (earnings from Social Security)
$941	Gross monthly SSDI before any deductions, pension or other unearned income
- $75	Federal & State disregards
$866	Countable unearned income
This person passes because total unearned income is not more than $867.
Step #2 (add all income, including earnings from Social Security and wages from a job)
$941	Total monthly Social Security income
- $20	Federal disregard
$921	Remaining Social Security income
$620	Weekly wage earnings
$2,666	Monthly earnings (weekly times 4.3)
- $ 65	Work disregard
$2,601
-1,300	Disregard one-half
$1,300	Remaining wage income
+$921	Add remaining Social Security
$2,221	Total income
- $ 55	Additional State disregard
$2,166	Total Countable Monthly Income
The person in Example #1 is eligible because total monthly countable income is not more than $2,167. They would pay a monthly MaineCare premium of $20.

EXAMPLE #2 - A single person with a disability receives income only from a job (no SSDI, pension or other income). Is this person eligible?
Step #1
Only income is from wages so this step is skipped
Step #2 (earnings from a job)
$1,053	Weekly wage earnings
$4,527	Monthly wage earnings (weekly times 4.3)
- $ 85	Federal & State disregards
$4,442
-2,221	Disregard one-half
$2,221	Total income
- $ 55	Additional State disregard
$2,166	Countable Monthly Income
The person in Example #2 is eligible because total monthly countable income is not more than $2,167. They would pay a monthly MaineCare premium of $20.

Reminder: If you already pay premiums under Part B of Medicare (currently $96.40 per month), you do not have to pay a MaineCare Workers with Disabilities Option premium.

To contact a benefit specialist, contact:

Alpha One
800-640-7200 (v/tty)
800-300-6016 (v/tty)

Maine Medical Center
Department of Vocational Services
888-208-8700 Toll Free
207-662-4900 TTY