I am on Medicare/Medicaid. If I move to another state do I have to reapply or is my status just transferred? Under Medicare I get SSI I think it is. Its a monthly check of about $530 per month currently. Is the amount of this monthly check the same in all states? I understand that I am also eligible for food stamps although I have not applied yet. I am 51 and I would be applying for just myself. I live in my grown son's home, no savings, disabled and unemployed due to ESRD. Approximately how much in food stamp dollars am I eligible for per month? Is this amount also the same from state to state?

Medicare coverage doesn't change from state to state. However, Medicaid is state-specific and a new application is required if you move to a new state. Some states supplement SSI payments but many do not. Before you move, contact Social Security about SSI payments and when you need to notify SSA about your move. Contact the state Medicaid office where you're thinking of moving about benefits, eligibility, and application requirements. If you have kidney disease (pre-dialysis, dialysis or transplant), be sure to arrange for medical care in your new community long before you move.

Beth, may I add to your response. It is my understanding that those receiving SSI & Medicaid (not SSD) can move to another state and semi-automatically receive medicaid in the new residence state. The SSI recipient must appear in person at the local Social Security office, in the new state. The social security office handles medicaid for SSI recipients. The original poster can confirm this with their current local social security office. Food stamps are handled locally, with amounts being different for each state. Hope this helps.

Beth,
What do you mean by some states supplementing SSI?

Some states pay more cash benefits to SSI recipients than the base amount that most states pay. Effective January 2001, the base SSI amounts are $531 for an eligible individual, $796 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $266 for an essential person.


For a list of states that supplement SSI and fact sheets that describe these states' programs, see http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/statessi.html.

Beth:
I'm new to this website so excuse me if I goof up! I also replied to the financial question. My problem: is there any help available for people who are not eligible for disablilty and SSI? My husband was self-employed before he became unable to work. Social Services says that he didn't have enough "work credits" in. At that time he needed 6. Because I'm an RN, I make too much money for him to get SSI. Now we have to pay m/care premiums too! We barely get by now because of all the co-pays and things not covered by insurance, how am I supposed to pay this, too? We were advised by a social worker to get a divorce. We've been married over 23 years, plus he would lose my health insurance, dental, vision, RX and a small life insurance policy if we divorced.
What is up with this system?!?

In our state if your medical expenses co-pays and some OTC meds are high enough you can get Medicaid to cover the co-pay even though your income is to high for SSI. This kept us a float.

To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance your husband would have to have earned enough work credits to qualify. The most work credits you can earn in a year is 4. Generally, he would need to have earned 20 work credits in the 10 years prior to becoming disabled. However, if he is under 24, he'd only need 6 work credits in the last 3 years; if 24-31, he'd have to have worked half the time from 21 to the age he became disabled.

SSI is a program for disabled people with little work history and very limited assets. Your husband would only be eligible for SSI if your family's income and savings were low enough for him to qualify. Your Social Security Office could tell you more about SSI eligibility.

Medicaid typically helps people who are low income with little in savings. People can sometimes qualify if their income is somewhat over the guidelines by paying part of their medical bills under a program called the medically needy program (also called spendown).

If your income is $1,015 (couple) or less and you have $6,000 or less in resources, your state would have to pay the Medicare B premium, the Medicare deductibles, the Medicare copays on Medicare covered services and Medicare inpatient deductibles under a program called Qualified Medicare Beneficiary. Ask your local Medicaid (or Medi-Cal, if in CA) office about whether your husband qualifies for this program, or the SLMB, QI1, or QI2 programs. All of these will help pay all or part of the Medicare Part B premium.

It sounds like you have an employer group insurance that covers him. It's possible that some of the deductibles and copays and services that are not covered by your health insurance can be billed to and paid by Medicare. An employer group health plan is primary for at least the first 30 months someone is on dialysis or has a transplant. Whenever possible, it's a good idea to keep an employer group health plan coverage because of their added benefits, especially medication coverage.

Rather than getting a divorce, talk with the social worker and ask about the American Kidney Fund's Health Insurance Premium Program. AKF receives donations from dialysis providers to help patients in need pay their Medicare and other premiums. You can read about this program at www.akfinc.org/Programs/Programs.htm.

He might want to contact your state Vocational Rehabilitation office to see if he can receive assistance to help him return to work. There are special Social Security work incentives for people with disabilities that work besides the added income he could earn that could help him pay premiums and other expenses. For more information see www.ssa.gov/work and look under "beneficiaries."