Moderate Support • Mid-Career • Goal 6:

Ensure Access to Key Benefits

Action step 1.

Determine how income could affect your eligibility.

Any time your job or income changes, it could affect the benefits you receive going forward. If you earn more than the income limit, you could experience a decrease or even loss of benefits or services, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) or Ticket to Work services. You and a support person may want to talk with your benefits counselor or service coordinator to make sure you understand how these changes could affect you.

Resources

  • From the Social Security Administration - Continued Medicaid Eligibility for People who Work
  • From the Social Security Administration - Ticket to Work
  • From Medicaid.gov - Home and Community-Based Services
  • From Autism Speaks - Understanding Social Security Benefits and Employment

Words to know

benefits counselor
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Medicaid
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Ticket to Work

Action step 2.

Explore options for health insurance.

Since health insurance is a complex issue, it’s important to plan ahead. A change in employer or income could affect the options available to you.

  • As a disabled adult, you may be covered by your parents’ health insurance plan beyond the usual age limit of 26.
  • You may be able to purchase private health insurance through your employer.
  • If you purchase insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you might qualify for financial assistance.
  • Eligibility for Medicaid varies by state.

Resources

  • From Autism Speaks - Health Insurance Coverage for Autism
  • Health Insurance Marketplace
  • From Medicaid.gov - Medicaid Eligibility
  • From Planning Across the Spectrum - Special Needs Healthcare Planning

Words to know

health insurance
Health Insurance Marketplace
Medicaid
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