Disability & Long-Term Care · Surprise rank #4
Disabled and Working? Earn Up to $80,820 and Still Keep Full Medicaid
New York’s Medicaid Buy-In lets many working people with disabilities earn far above ordinary Medicaid limits without losing full Medicaid coverage.
Who
Working New Yorkers with a qualifying disability who meet the program rules, even if they do not receive SSI or SSDI.
What to do
Start here: Ask the local Medicaid office specifically for an MBI-WPD eligibility screening.
Eligibility: Working status, qualifying disability, age, New York residency, income and resource rules apply. The $80,820 / $109,236 figures are gross-income examples under current 2026 guidance.
What you get
Under current 2026 guidance, gross income may be as high as $80,820 for one person or $109,236 for a couple while qualifying for the Medicaid Buy-In, subject to the program’s disability, income and resource rules.
Benefit: Full Medicaid coverage while working, including disability-related services an employer plan may not cover.
Possible value: Potentially thousands to tens of thousands of dollars annually, depending on medical and support needs.
Good to know
Important: Eligibility is not based only on gross salary; a specific MBI-WPD screening is required.
Availability: Year-round.
Why people miss it: Many people assume employment automatically ends Medicaid or that a cash disability benefit is required first.
Sources reviewed: Aug 9, 2026