WAwD Program Colorado: Medicaid Buy-In for Working Adults with Disabilities

The Working Adults with Disabilities (WAwD) program is Colorado's Medicaid Buy-In — a pathway to keep Health First Colorado coverage while earning well above standard Medicaid income limits. For adults with disabilities who want to work without losing healthcare, WAwD removes the biggest barrier. And unlike SSI, it has no asset limit.

WAwD Eligibility in 2026

The requirements are straightforward compared to most disability programs:

• Age: 16 or older (the historical maximum age of 65 was eliminated in July 2022)
• Employment: working at least 1 hour per month. Part-time, supported employment, self-employment — all count
• Disability: determined by the SSA or Colorado's State Disability Determination vendor
• Income: countable income after disregards at or below 450% of the Federal Poverty Level — $5,985 per month for an individual in 2026
• Asset limit: none. Zero. You can have savings, own property, hold investments

That income ceiling is remarkably generous. An individual with $5,000/month in countable income after disregards could fall within the limit; gross wages alone do not determine eligibility. That's well above SGA ($1,690/month), which means WAwD serves people who earn too much for SSI but still need Medicaid for disability-related healthcare.

The Monthly Premium

WAwD isn't free Medicaid — it's a buy-in. Participants pay a monthly premium on a sliding scale based on adjusted income. For most participants, the premium is modest relative to private insurance costs. The premium structure makes it functionally equivalent to subsidized insurance, but with Health First Colorado's Medicaid coverage; HCBS waiver services require separate eligibility and enrollment.

Why WAwD Matters for Transition Families

For a young adult who passes the SSI age-18 redetermination and wants to pursue employment, the math creates a cliff: earned income can reduce SSI and eventually end the cash benefit, which can trigger loss of automatic Medicaid. WAwD catches them on the other side.

WAwD also provides a critical exemption from PETI cost-sharing for adults enrolled in the DD waiver's residential services. If your adult child is working and enrolled in both WAwD and the DD waiver, they're exempt from the PETI cost-share calculation — their earned income doesn't get counted toward residential care costs, although standard room and board remains their responsibility.

The combination of WAwD + ABLE account creates a financial architecture where a working adult with a disability can earn substantial income, save without a WAwD asset limit, maintain Medicaid coverage, and avoid the PETI cost-share; standard room and board may still apply. It's the most protective employment pathway in Colorado's benefits system.

How to Enroll

Apply through the Colorado PEAK portal or at your county Department of Human Services:

1. Submit a Medical Assistance application through PEAK, selecting the WAwD/Medicaid Buy-In option
2. Provide proof of employment — a pay stub, letter from employer, or self-employment documentation showing at least 1 hour of work per month
3. Provide disability documentation — if you already have an SSA disability determination, the county can verify electronically. If not, you'll need the state-level Med-9 disability application
4. Income verification — pay stubs or tax returns for the premium calculation

Processing time and the effective date vary by case. Confirm both with the county after submitting the application.

WAwD and Other Programs

WAwD enrollees can simultaneously participate in HCBS waivers (SLS, DD), Community First Choice, and DVR services. The programs are designed to stack — WAwD provides the healthcare coverage, the waiver provides daily living supports, CFC provides attendant services, and DVR provides employment training.

The Colorado SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide maps out how WAwD fits into the larger benefits architecture, with an employment-PETI exemption worksheet to calculate whether your adult child's employment status triggers the exemption.

See more Colorado guides →