MAWD Pennsylvania: Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities

What MAWD Actually Does

Most disabled adults in Pennsylvania face a brutal choice: take a job and risk losing Medicaid, or stay on SSI and keep their healthcare. The Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities program — universally called MAWD — eliminates that trap by letting working Pennsylvanians with disabilities earn real income without forfeiting their Medical Assistance coverage.

MAWD exists because standard Medicaid categories tie eligibility to extremely low income thresholds. Once you earn above those limits, you're out. MAWD raises the ceiling dramatically, making it one of the most important employment supports available to disabled adults in the state.

MAWD Eligibility Requirements for 2026

To qualify for MAWD in Pennsylvania, you must meet all four criteria:

• Disability determination. You must have a disability that meets SSA standards — meaning you've been approved for SSI, SSDI, or have a separate Medical Assistance disability determination on file with DHS.
• Employment. You must be working and receiving compensation. This includes part-time work, supported employment, customized employment, and self-employment. Volunteer work does not count.
• Income limit. Your countable monthly income must fall below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level — that's $3,325 per month for an individual in 2026.
• Asset limit. Your countable resources cannot exceed $10,000 at application and on an ongoing basis. Your home and one vehicle are excluded under the applicable resource rules; do not assume the SSI $100,000 ABLE threshold automatically applies to MAWD.

DHS applies its MAWD countable-income rules rather than simply using a gross paycheck. Check with the County Assistance Office about how disability-related work expenses and other deductions are treated before comparing income with the limit.

What MAWD Covers

MAWD provides full Medical Assistance benefits — the same comprehensive package as standard Pennsylvania Medicaid. That includes physician visits, prescriptions, hospitalizations, behavioral health services, durable medical equipment, home health, and therapies. There are no reduced benefits or limited service packages under MAWD.

The Monthly Premium

MAWD is not free. Enrolled individuals pay a monthly premium equal to 5% of their countable monthly income. If you're earning $2,000 per month, your premium is $100. The premium is invoiced directly by DHS and must be paid to maintain coverage.

Workers with Job Success: The Next Tier

Pennsylvania also runs a companion program called Workers with Job Success, which extends the income ceiling even further. To qualify for WJS:

• You must have been enrolled in MAWD for at least 12 consecutive months.
• Your countable monthly income can reach up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level — $7,825 per month in 2026.
• The asset limit of $10,000 applies only at initial WJS application. Once you're enrolled, there is no ongoing asset limit.

The WJS premium is 7.5% of income for those earning under 450% FPL, or a flat $948 per month for those earning above that threshold. WJS was created by Act 2022-77 specifically to keep higher-earning disabled workers from falling off the Medicaid cliff.

How MAWD Interacts with SSI

Earnings reduce SSI under SSI's income-counting rules; the $1,690 Substantial Gainful Activity figure is a separate work-and-disability threshold, not the SSI cash-benefit cutoff. MAWD operates independently of SSI — your Medicaid continues under MAWD's own rules even if your SSI benefit drops to zero. This is the key protection: you keep healthcare coverage through MAWD while your SSI benefit adjusts to your earnings.

If you're a young adult transitioning from childhood SSI to adult benefits, MAWD provides a safety net that lets you pursue competitive employment without the all-or-nothing risk that keeps many disabled adults from working at all.

How to Apply

MAWD applications go through your local County Assistance Office. You can apply online through the COMPASS portal or submit a paper PA 600 application. You'll need documentation of your disability determination, current employment verification (pay stubs or an employer letter), and asset documentation.

Processing typically takes 30 days. If you're currently on standard Medical Assistance and starting a new job, apply for MAWD before your income pushes you over standard Medicaid limits — there's no penalty for applying early, and it prevents a gap in coverage.

The Pennsylvania SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes a MAWD application checklist with the exact documents your CAO will request, plus a worksheet for calculating whether MAWD or standard Medicaid is the better fit for your income level.

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