Medical Assistance Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD)

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For people with disabilities, finding a job or returning to work can be a challenge. For a long time one of the biggest obstacles to working was health care coverage. Earning too much money meant risking losing health care benefits. However, there is an option: Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD).

MAWD lets Pennsylvanians with disabilities take a fulfilling job, earn more money and still keep their full medical coverage. With MAWD you can keep Medical Assistance while you work, even if your earnings increase above the limits. You do not have to choose between a job and your health.
How to apply? You can apply for benefits online in a quick, easy and secure way using COMPASS. Contact your local county assistance office (CAO) or caseworker to apply, or to find out more about how MAWD can help.

Call the Department of Human Services HelpLine at (800) 692-7462 for more information. TTY/TTD users can call (800) 451-5886.

Eligibility To be eligible for MAWD, you must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age but less than 65
  • Be employed and receiving compensation
  • Have a disability that meets the Social Security Administration’s standards*
  • Have countable income below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines**
  • Have $10,000 or less in countable resources (resident property and one automobile are not countable assets)

* Disabilities may include physical or developmental disabilities, mental health or intellectual disabilities.
** Contact your caseworker or local county assistance office(CAO) for more information. You can apply for benefits online in a quick, easy and secure way using COMPASS.

What’s the cost?

You pay a monthly premium for coverage under MAWD, since it functions like health insurance coverage for someone working. But the premium is affordable – just 5% of your countable monthly income. That is a reasonable cost for the coverage you need to keep working.

Benefits may include:

  • Doctor visits
  • Durable medical equipment
  • Prescription drugs
  • Emergency care
  • Mental health services
  • Dental services
  • Drug and alcohol treatment
  • Hospital stays
  • Rehabilitation services
  • Hospice services
  • Medical transportation services

For a copy of the brochure: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/document/c_255794.pdf

 

*AUCP does not own the rights to this document. Adapted from The PA Department of Human Services.