California 250% Working Disabled Medi-Cal Program

What This Program Does

The 250% Working Disabled Program provides full-scope Medi-Cal coverage to adults with disabilities who are working. It exists specifically to solve the problem that keeps many disabled adults from pursuing employment: the fear that earning money will eliminate their health coverage.

Under this program, an individual can earn substantially more than what standard Medi-Cal allows and still maintain coverage — including access to IHSS, medical appointments, prescriptions, therapy, and durable medical equipment. The program is available through the county welfare department and doesn't require SSI enrollment.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an individual must meet all three criteria:

1. Disability determination — The individual must meet Social Security's definition of disability (unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable impairment). They don't need to be receiving SSI or SSDI — the disability determination can come from a prior SSA finding, or the county can refer the individual for a disability evaluation.

2. Employment — The individual must be working. There's no minimum hours requirement — any employment counts, whether part-time, full-time, self-employment, or supported employment through the Department of Rehabilitation or a regional center program.

3. Income under 250% FPL — Net family income must be below 250% of the federal poverty level. The applicable dollar amount is the current 250% FPL threshold for the household size. The critical advantage: all unearned disability income (SSI, SSDI, DAC benefits, state disability insurance) is fully excluded from the income calculation. Only earned income and non-disability unearned income count.

That unearned income exclusion is the program's most powerful feature. An individual receiving $1,233.94 in SSI/SSP plus earning $2,000 per month from a part-time job has a countable income of approximately $2,000 for WDP purposes — well under the 250% FPL threshold — even though their total monthly income exceeds $3,200.

Asset Limits

The 250% Working Disabled Program follows the reinstated Medi-Cal asset limits:

• Through June 30, 2027: $130,000 for an individual, $195,000 for a couple
• After July 1, 2027: $21,000 for an individual, $31,000 for a couple

CalABLE account balances are excluded from the asset count. The same exempt-asset rules apply as for other non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs — primary residence, one vehicle, household furnishings, retirement accounts in payout status.

How WDP Interacts with SSI and Section 1619(b)

Most transition-age adults who start working while receiving SSI will first use SSI's own work incentives — the earned income exclusion, the Student Earned Income Exclusion, and eventually Section 1619(b), which preserves Medi-Cal when earnings push SSI to zero.

The 250% Working Disabled Program serves as a broader safety net. Some scenarios where WDP matters more than Section 1619(b):

• The individual never received SSI (they entered the workforce through vocational rehabilitation without an SSI history)
• The individual's earnings exceed the Section 1619(b) threshold for California
• The individual lost SSI at 18 due to the redetermination and doesn't have a current SSI case to attach Section 1619(b) protections to

WDP is particularly valuable for young adults who are motivated to work but whose families fear that employment will unravel their entire benefit structure. The program provides a clear, documented path: you can work, earn a real income, and keep Medi-Cal.

Applying for WDP

Applications go through the county welfare department (the same office that handles standard Medi-Cal). You'll need:

• Proof of disability (prior SSA determination, or a physician certification that the individual meets Social Security's disability criteria)
• Proof of employment (pay stubs, employer letter, or self-employment documentation)
• Income verification (tax returns, pay stubs, benefit award letters)
• Asset documentation (bank statements, vehicle registration)

Processing time varies by county. Some counties process WDP applications within 45 days; others take longer. The program doesn't require a separate premium payment — it's full-scope, free Medi-Cal, not a buy-in program.

Why This Matters for the Transition

For families coordinating the school-to-adult transition, the 250% Working Disabled Program removes one of the biggest barriers to post-school employment. A young adult exiting special education at 22 and entering supported employment through the regional center or DOR doesn't need to choose between a paycheck and health coverage.

Combined with the Department of Rehabilitation's Work Incentive Planners, the CalABLE account's asset protection, and the SSI earned income exclusions, WDP is one piece of a broader safety net designed to make employment financially viable for adults with disabilities.

For the complete employment-and-benefits coordination strategy, see our California SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide.

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