The Basics1) Medi-Cal Covers People With Disabilities Who Work2) A Job + SSI = More Money3) Your Child Can Save More4) Your Child Will Stay Connected to SSIResources

Parent Focus: Four Ways Benefits Support Work

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    Parent Focus: Four Ways Benefits Support Work

    Your Child Can Save More

    As your child makes more money, he or she can start saving for bigger goals, like college, a car, or someday buying a home. Building assets will be a key to comfort and security for your child’s entire life.

    SSI and Medi-Cal Rules Help People who Work and Save

    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has a $2,000 resource limit. However, your child can save way more money than this if he or she gets a job.

    SSI resource rules for people who work:

    • Not all resources are counted, so your child can own a car or get certain types of financial aid for school that won’t be counted against the resource limit.
    • ABLE accounts will let you and your child put money into a special account where the first $100,000 will not count against the SSI resource limit.
    • Savings in a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) or Individual Development Account (IDA) are not counted. These special types of accounts let your child save for specific expenses, like school tuition.
    • Assets in certain types of trusts do not count.

    Medi-Cal resource rules for people who work:

    • There is no resource limit for Medi-Cal!
    The bottom line

    Saving money for the future is important. Talk to a benefits planner to figure out which asset-building strategies will let your child keep getting SSI.

    Read more about asset-building strategies.

    No more Medi-Cal/MSP resource limits

    On January 1, 2024, Medi-Cal resource limits were completely removed. This applies to Medi-Cal through A&D FPL, the Working Disabled Program (WDP), and ABD–MN, as well as Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). If you've been denied Medi-Cal or an MSP because you had too much in resources, try applying again.

    Note: This doesn't change SSI-linked Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal through SSI 1619(b), as they still have SSI's $2,000 resource limit. And it doesn't change income-based Medi-Cal, which never had a resource limit.

    Learn more

    Benefits for Young People

    Find out how benefits support young people who work.

    Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

    SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

    Building Your Assets and Wealth

    Discover ways to save up money while working.