NJ WorkAbility Eligibility for Young People

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 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 years old or older
• Live in New Jersey
• Be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien
• Be working
• 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.
• Have limited income
  • Your unearned income must be at or below $1,215 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 $73,692 per year for individuals.

Get more information about the NJ WorkAbility income limits.

Note: NJ WorkAbility used to have a resource limit. The rules changed on April 1, 2023 and this limit was removed. That means you can save up more money and don't have to worry about losing coverage!

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, 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.