Continued Medicaid Eligibility under Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act is the crucial work incentive that allows those on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to continue to remain eligible for Medical Assistance even if their earned income has caused their SSI monthly payments to be reduced to $0.
Each year, with bated breath, we await the new annual thresholds, never quite sure where they will land as the calculation process is convoluted and quite abstruse. It involves the determination of the average Medicaid expenses in each state.
In Maryland this year SSI beneficiaries can now have countable earned income up to $52,892 and still be eligible for MA. That’s a significant increase on 2023’s $48,602 figure and ranks high overall in the country. Alaska tops the charts with a whopping threshold of $86,438, while spare a thought for SSI beneficiaries in Tennessee who will exceed the limit with annual income over $34,490.
Here’s where you can see the full table: Continued Medicaid Eligibility (Section 1619(B)) | Disability Research | SSA