Medicaid
Spend-down:
In most cases,
individuals who meet
the medical
determination for
disability, but who
have income above
the
Federal Benefit Rate
($674 per month for
an individual or
$1011 per month for a
married couple) may
have a
spend-down.
This means that
individuals will
have to spend down
their excess monthly
income toward their
medical expenses
before they are
eligible for
Medicaid
each month. If your
monthly income is
over the individual
Federal Benefit
Rate, Medicaid will
disregard part of
your income,
including a $15.50
General Income
Disregard (GID).
Medicaid does not
count
Supplemental
Security Income (SSI)
income when figuring
your eligibility for
Medicaid or
determining a
spend-down.
This is because
by federal law, SSI
is intended to pay
for food, clothing
or shelter.
Individuals with
disabilities whose
incomes are above
the Federal Benefit
Rate because their
work activity may
qualify for a work
incentive called
MED Works.
