EDD unemployment income limits for Medi-Cal eligibility in 2025

Yes, both unemployment benefits and SSDI count as income for Medi-Cal eligibility purposes. For 2025, if you're aged (65+) or disabled, the income limit for an individual is $1,732 per month (138% of Federal Poverty Level). However, there are special programs like the Working Disabled Program and the 250% Working Disabled Program that might help if you're over the limit. Your total monthly income would be around $3,650 (SSDI + unemployment), which is over the basic limit. I'd recommend applying anyway because: 1. There's a Medi-Cal program specifically for people with disabilities with higher income limits 2. They consider your medical expenses which can lower your 'countable income' 3. The Aged & Disabled Federal Poverty Level program might work for you You should contact your county Medi-Cal office directly rather than the general helpline.

the income limits change like every yr so make sure ur getting the 2025 info!! my mom got kicked off bcuz they used old numbers to calculate her benefits last yr... such a mess

I went through something similar last year when I lost my job. YES unemployment counts as income and YES SSDI counts too for Medi-Cal. It's all income. What saved me was applying for the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program - I was able to do some part-time consulting work which qualified me as 'working' even though I was also on unemployment. The regular income limit was way too low for me too, but this program has a much higher threshold - 250% of federal poverty level which is like $3,250/month for an individual in 2025. I'd recommend applying ASAP because there's often a waiting period and you don't want to have a gap in coverage!

To give you the most accurate information: the Medi-Cal program you want to look into is called the Aged, Blind, & Disabled (ABD) Medi-Cal program. For 2025, the income limit for an individual is $1,732 monthly, but there are important deductions applied: 1. They don't count the first $65 of earnings plus half of the remaining earned income 2. They allow a $20 general income deduction 3. They deduct health insurance premiums you pay So your actual 'countable income' might be lower than your total income. And yes, both unemployment and SSDI count as income, but they're treated differently when calculating eligibility. If your countable income is still too high, look into the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program as mentioned or the Medi-Cal Access Program. Call your county Medi-Cal office directly rather than the general line. Ask for a eligibility worker who specializes in ABD Medi-Cal.

Ughhh the Medi-Cal system is THE WORST! when i was on unemployment last year they kept sending me confusing letters saying i was approved then not approved then needed to verify identity AGAIN. total nightmare. good luck!!!

Have you tried contacting EDD directly about how unemployment affects your Medi-Cal eligibility? I was stuck in a similar situation trying to get answers about how my UI benefits affected my healthcare coverage. After trying for weeks to get through on the regular EDD line with no luck, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep I spoke with was actually really helpful and explained exactly how my unemployment benefits affected my Medi-Cal eligibility and directed me to the right department. Saved me so much frustration after weeks of getting nowhere.

Just a heads up that Medi-Cal and EDD are completely different systems and most EDD reps don't know much about Medi-Cal eligibility. Your best bet is to contact your county social services department directly - they handle Medi-Cal applications. The state DHCS website (Department of Health Care Services) also has good info on income limits for different programs.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I called my county Medi-Cal office this morning and spoke with someone who specializes in the ABD program. She confirmed that both my unemployment and SSDI count as income, but with the deductions (especially my supplemental health insurance premium), my countable income is lower. She also said my part-time freelance work makes me eligible to apply for the 250% Working Disabled Program, which would give me much more breathing room with the income limits. I've submitted my application and have an appointment next week to finish the process. I feel so much better knowing I have options! Thank you all again for your guidance.

This is such great information in this thread! I'm in a similar situation - just got laid off from my job and trying to figure out how my unemployment will affect my existing Medi-Cal coverage. I'm 42 and have been on Medi-Cal through the expanded eligibility program, but now I'm worried my UI benefits might push me over the income limit. Does anyone know if there's a grace period when you first start receiving unemployment? Like, do they immediately recalculate your Medi-Cal eligibility or is there a window where your coverage continues? I'm supposed to report income changes within 10 days but I'm scared of losing coverage while I'm job hunting. Also, has anyone had experience with how they handle the transition if you do go over the income limit? Do they just cut you off or help you transition to other coverage options?

Hi Tasia! I went through something similar when I lost my job last year. You're right to be concerned about reporting changes quickly. Here's what I learned: You do need to report your unemployment benefits to Medi-Cal within 10 days of receiving them, but they don't immediately cut you off. They'll send you a notice asking for verification of your new income and then recalculate your eligibility. This process usually takes 2-4 weeks, so you have some time. If your UI benefits push you over the regular Medi-Cal income limit, they'll first check if you qualify for other Medi-Cal programs with higher income limits (like the ones mentioned in this thread). If not, they'll help you transition to Covered California with subsidies - they don't just leave you hanging without coverage. The key is to respond quickly to any requests for information they send you. I also recommend calling your county office proactively when you start receiving UI to ask about your options before they make any changes to your coverage. Don't delay reporting though - if they find out later that you didn't report income changes on time, it can cause bigger problems. Better to be upfront and work with them to find the right program for your situation.

Just wanted to add another resource that might help - if you're having trouble getting through to your county Medi-Cal office, try calling early in the morning right when they open (usually 8am). I found the wait times were much shorter then compared to calling later in the day. Also, if you're in a larger county like LA or Orange County, they sometimes have dedicated phone lines for people with disabilities that can be faster than the general eligibility line. When you call, specifically ask if there's a separate line for ABD (Aged, Blind & Disabled) cases. One more tip - keep detailed notes of every conversation including the date, time, and name of who you spoke with. The system can be inconsistent and having documentation really helps if you get conflicting information from different workers. Good luck with your appointment next week! Sounds like you're on the right track.

I'm in a similar boat - just started receiving unemployment after being laid off from my retail job and I'm really anxious about how this will affect my Medi-Cal coverage. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful! One thing I wanted to add for anyone else in this situation: if you're worried about losing coverage while navigating the system, you might want to ask about "presumptive eligibility" when you apply or report changes. Some counties can give you temporary coverage while they process your application or recalculate your eligibility, especially if you have ongoing medical needs. Also, I noticed someone mentioned that freelance work might qualify you for the Working Disabled Program - does anyone know how much work you need to be doing? I do some occasional gig work through apps but it's pretty minimal income. Not sure if that would count as "working" for program purposes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here. It's scary navigating these systems when you're already stressed about losing your job, but this community is amazing for helping each other figure it out!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm also navigating unemployment and healthcare coverage right now. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you're between jobs and worried about medical expenses while sorting out your Medi-Cal eligibility, many hospitals and clinics in California have financial assistance programs that are separate from Medi-Cal. I had to go to urgent care last month while my coverage was being reviewed, and the billing department told me about their charity care program. Even if you're temporarily over income limits for Medi-Cal, you might still qualify for reduced-cost or free care at individual healthcare facilities. Also, for anyone dealing with chronic conditions like the original poster - don't forget that you can often get prescription assistance directly from drug manufacturers if there's a gap in coverage. Most major pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs with income limits that are much higher than Medi-Cal limits. It's frustrating that we have to piece together all these different resources, but knowing about these backup options can provide some peace of mind while navigating the system!

This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm a newcomer here but currently dealing with a very similar situation. I was just laid off from my job as a medical assistant two weeks ago and I'm terrified about losing my healthcare coverage while I figure out unemployment benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been a huge relief - I had no idea there were so many different Medi-Cal programs and options available. The information about the ABD program, the Working Disabled Program, and especially those income deductions is exactly what I needed to know. I'm planning to call my county office first thing Monday morning (thanks for the tip about calling early!) and ask specifically about these programs. I also do some weekend pet-sitting work that I wasn't sure would count as "working" but it sounds like even minimal freelance income might help me qualify for better programs. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and experiences. It's scary enough losing your job without having to worry about losing healthcare too, but this community gives me hope that I can navigate this successfully. I'll definitely update once I talk to my county office!

I'm new here but going through something very similar! Just got laid off from my administrative job at a medical clinic and starting to panic about how unemployment benefits will affect my existing Medi-Cal coverage. I'm 34 and have been on regular Medi-Cal through the expanded program, but I'm worried my UI benefits might push me over the income threshold. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea there were so many different Medi-Cal programs with varying income limits! The information about deductions and the different disability programs is exactly what I needed to understand. I don't have SSDI like some of you, but I do have documented anxiety and depression that sometimes makes it hard to work full-time. Would that potentially qualify me for any of the disability-related programs mentioned here, or are those specifically for physical disabilities? Also, huge thanks to everyone sharing county office tips - I've been dreading making those calls but the advice about calling early and asking for specialized workers gives me a much better game plan. This community is amazing for supporting each other through these stressful situations!

I'm new to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful! I'm 29 and just got laid off from my job at a nonprofit. I've been on regular Medi-Cal for about a year, but now I'm worried about how my upcoming unemployment benefits might affect my coverage. What I'm finding confusing is the timing of everything. I applied for unemployment but haven't received my first payment yet - should I report to Medi-Cal that I'll be receiving UI benefits before I actually start getting them? Or do I wait until the first payment hits my account? Also, I'm wondering about the interaction between different types of income. I have a small amount coming in from a rental property (just $300/month from renting out a room in my house) - does that get calculated differently than unemployment benefits for Medi-Cal purposes? Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical tips. It's scary navigating these systems when you're already stressed about job loss, but reading everyone's stories gives me confidence that there are solutions out there. Planning to call my county office tomorrow morning armed with all the great advice from this thread!