SSI and Florida Medicaid
- Low-income disabled and elderly individuals 65 or older qualify for SSI subsidies. A disability is a permanent or long-term handicap that limits a person's ability to work. The state also considers household income, assets and size to determine a resident's eligibility for Supplemental Security Income. Eligibility for SSI does not affect a person's retirement-related Social Security benefits, though monthly Social Security benefits do count as income toward SSI eligibility.
- Any Florida resident who qualifies for SSI payments automatically qualifies for Medicaid as well. In fact, the state does not require SSI recipients to complete a Medicaid application unless long-term nursing home care is medically necessary. Furthermore, Medicaid benefits remain intact as long as enrollees continue to qualify for SSI distributions.
- On occasion, a person might lose eligibility for Supplemental Security Income payments by successfully re-entering the work force despite a perpetual disability. In such cases, the Social Security Act offers a provision that allows for a continuation of Medicaid benefits so long as the worker meets certain conditions. To qualify, a person must have maintained SSI eligibility for a minimum of 30 days and need Medicaid benefits to continue working. According to the Social Security Administration, earned income from the new job must also be less than the combined value of SSI payments, Medicaid and publicly funded attendant care services to continue Medicaid benefits.
- The Social Security Administration sets an annual earnings threshold for each state to determine how much money a disabled individual could sufficiently earn to replace SSI, Medicaid and attendant care service costs. As of 2011, Florida's threshold amount is $28,753, though that amount changes from year to year to adjust for inflation and the cost of living.
