NJ WorkAbility Eligibility
If you get a job and are either making too much money or have saved up too much money to get Medicaid, you might qualify for Medicaid's Medicaid's NJ WorkAbility program program. NJ WorkAbility offers the same coverage as standard Medicaid, but you may have to pay a monthly premium to keep your coverage.
To qualify for NJ WorkAbility, you must:
- Be 16 – 64 years old
- Live in New Jersey
- Be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien
- Be working
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Have a disability that meets Social Security’s medical standards.
- The standards are different if you're under 18 or over 18. See this article's SSI page for more information about the differences.
- SSA’s disability rules related to earned income do not apply.
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Have limited income
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Your unearned income must be at or below $1,074 per month for individuals.
- The NJ WorkAbility program does not count Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as income.
- Your earned income must be at or below $65,196 per year for individuals.
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Your unearned income must be at or below $1,074 per month for individuals.
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Have less than $20,000 in resources for individuals.
- Money in an ABLE account, the house you live in, cars used for medical transportation or work, and retirement accounts are not counted.
Get more information about the NJ WorkAbility income limits.
If your countable income is more than 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($1,610 per month for an individual), the monthly premium for NJ WorkAbility coverage is $25. If your countable income is less than 150% of the FPG, there is no charge.
Freddy has no unearned income and makes $5,052 per month at his job. He makes way too much money for Medicaid, so his county worker tells him to apply for NJ WorkAbility.
When the county reviews his application, it says Freddy only has $2,483 in countable income, so he easily qualifies for NJ WorkAbility. He has to pay a $25 monthly premium, but it’s less than he’d have to pay for private insurance.
How to Apply for NJ WorkAbility
Before you apply, NJHelps lets you get an anonymous estimate of whether you are eligible for Medicaid's NJ WorkAbility program or other state and federal programs.
You can apply for Medicaid's NJ WorkAbility program:
- Online using NJ FamilyCare Quickstart
- By downloading an application, printing it, filling it out, and mailing it in, or
- At an outreach and enrollment site in your county.
NJ FamilyCare lists the information and documents you may need when you apply. For help with your application, talk with a Health Benefits Coordinator at 1-800-701-0710 or 1-800-701-0720 (TTY).
If you don't qualify for Medicaid's NJ WorkAbility program, you may be able to get private insurance subsidized by the government through tax credits.
Learn more about NJ WorkAbility in DB101’s How Health Benefits Work article.
