Wyoming EID Medicaid Program for Employed Individuals With Disabilities

The Problem EID Solves

For young adults with developmental disabilities in Wyoming, earning a paycheck creates a paradox. Employment income pushes SSI down — and once SSI hits zero, the automatic Medicaid enrollment that comes with it is at risk. Without Medicaid, waiver services funded through the Supports or Comprehensive Waiver can be interrupted and waiver eligibility can be at risk. The Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) program exists specifically to break that trap.

EID provides a separate Medicaid eligibility pathway for working individuals with disabilities aged 16 to 64. It keeps Medicaid coverage in place even when earned income would otherwise disqualify the person from SSI-linked Medicaid — and it does so with terms that actively encourage employment rather than penalizing it.

How EID Eligibility Works

The program's income and resource rules are deliberately more generous than SSI's:

• Unearned income must fall within the 300% FBR limit ($2,982 per month in 2026). This is the same standard used for DD waiver Medicaid eligibility.
• All earned income is exempt when determining EID eligibility. A person earning $3,000 per month from a job still qualifies for EID as long as their unearned income stays under $2,982.
• There is no resource test. Unlike SSI's $2,000 asset ceiling, EID applicants are not disqualified by savings, ABLE accounts, or other countable resources.

This combination means a young adult can work full-time, save money, and maintain Medicaid coverage that funds their waiver services. It is the single most important work incentive in Wyoming's disability benefits framework.

The Monthly Premium

EID is not free. Participants pay a monthly premium calculated as 7.5% of gross monthly income (both earned and unearned), with a $50 deduction allowed from unearned income.

For example, a person earning $1,200 per month from a job and receiving $800 per month in SSDI benefits would pay:

• Gross earned income: $1,200
• Unearned income after $50 deduction: $750
• Total for premium calculation: $1,950
• Monthly premium: $1,950 × 7.5% = $146.25

The premium must be mailed to the state's fiscal agent in Dallas, Texas, by the 10th of the coverage month. This deadline is strict — a missed payment will close the case.

If the break in EID coverage is less than 60 days, the case can be reinstated by paying all delinquent premiums. A gap of 60 days or longer requires a new application and payment of all back premiums before the case reopens.

Waiver Compatibility

EID is explicitly designed to work alongside DD waiver services. A participant on the Supports Waiver who earns enough to lose SSI cash benefits can transition to EID for their Medicaid coverage while keeping their waiver slot active. The waiver's clinical level of care and financial eligibility are assessed independently of the EID premium calculation; eligible clients can retain their waiver benefits while Medicaid remains active through EID.

This is the scenario families should plan for: a young adult who graduates from school, enters competitive employment through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's Pre-ETS program or Pathways to Progress, and earns enough to surpass SSI income limits. Without EID, that success story can put Medicaid coverage at risk. With EID, eligible clients can retain Medicaid and waiver benefits while building financial independence.

How to Apply

EID applications go through the county Benefits and Eligibility Specialist (BES) — the same office that handles waiver Medicaid eligibility. The BES verifies disability status, employment, and income levels. Because EID uses the same Medicaid administrative infrastructure as the waiver programs, families already working with a case manager can coordinate the transition from SSI-linked Medicaid to EID Medicaid without starting from scratch.

The Wyoming SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes the full EID premium calculation worksheet and a timeline for when to apply — ideally before SSI is formally suspended, so there is no gap in Medicaid coverage.

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