Social Security DAC benefits vs SSI - Medicaid concerns when switching programs for adult disabled son

yes u need to list ALL work. even tho SSA can see his earnings record they still need u to fill out that part. just put what u know and attach a note saying 'minimal work history from teenage years before diagnosis, details not available, please see earnings record.' for the medicaid question when ur husband passes - yep the ABLE account is exactly what u want to do! thats how my brother keeps his medicaid with DAC benefits over $2k. just remember there's yearly contribution limits to ABLE. good luck!!

I'd like to clarify a few important points about DAC benefits and Medicaid eligibility: 1) For the work history question - Yes, you should disclose all work history, even minimal amounts from years ago. The SSA needs to verify your son hasn't engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which is a key eligibility factor for DAC benefits. For 2025, the SGA threshold is $1,550 monthly for non-blind individuals. Based on what you've described, his earnings were well below this threshold. 2) Regarding Medicaid after your husband's passing - Your son would likely qualify for what's called the "DAC Special Protected Status" for Medicaid. This provision specifically protects individuals who lose SSI due to receiving DAC benefits. Even when his benefits increase to survivor level, he can maintain Medicaid eligibility if: - He was eligible for SSI before receiving DAC - He would still be eligible for SSI if not for the DAC benefits - He meets all other SSI criteria except for income The ABLE account strategy is excellent for managing resources, but the special protection should prevent him from losing Medicaid coverage regardless of the DAC benefit amount.

my sister went thru this exact same thing last year. the work history part was a NIGHTMARE!!!! they kept sending back the application saying it wasnt complete enough even tho she barely worked in 1997!!! like how am i supposed to remember where she worked for 2 months 25 years ago???? ugh. anyway we had to contact our state's disability rights legal aid group to help us. took 5 months to get it all sorted out. so my advice is document EVERYTHING. good luck.

Important correction to some of the information you've received: The $2,000 resource limit applies to SSI, but DAC benefits are under SSDI rules, which don't have resource limits. Resources only matter for Medicaid qualification. Another critical point: When your son transitions from SSI to DAC, he'll automatically qualify for Section 1619(b) Medicaid protection, which continues even after the Medicare waiting period ends. This protection extends through the DAC survivor benefit transition. For the work question: Always include all work history, even minimal earnings. The SSA examines this to determine if your son has ever performed SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity), which could affect eligibility. The minimal earnings you described shouldn't be problematic, but omitting them could delay processing. Regarding the ABLE account: This is still a good strategy for managing excess funds while maintaining Medicaid eligibility through other programs if needed. Remember the annual contribution limit is $18,000 for 2025.

i went thru similar transition from ssi to dac. definitely answer YES to the work question!!! they will check his earnings record no matter what and if u say NO when the record shows earnings (even tiny amounts from forever ago) they might consider it misrepresentation. just put what u remember or can find documentation for. for the medicaid thing - there's a thing called the Pickle Amendment that might help ur son keep medicaid even with higher benefits, u should ask about that specifically. and YES keep using the ABLE account!! its a lifesaver!!!

I'm going through almost the same situation with my daughter (47, Down syndrome). The work history part was frustrating but we ended up attaching her earnings record printout from SSA along with a note explaining the limited information available. They accepted this. For your Medicaid question - this is a BIG ISSUE that many case workers don't understand correctly. Print out information about the "DAC Medicaid protection" or "1634(c) protection" and take it with you to all appointments. I learned this the hard way when a caseworker tried to terminate my daughter's Medicaid incorrectly. Also, there's a 5-month waiting period for DAC benefits to begin after approval and a 24-month waiting period for Medicare to start (counted from the start of DAC benefits).

one more thing - make sure u keep copies of EVERYTHING u submit!!! i lost my brothers medicaid for 3 months because they "never received" our paperwork (they did). now i send everything certified mail or submit in person and get receipts. the system is a mess!!

I specialize in benefits coordination for adults with disabilities, and there are several nuanced points to consider with your situation: 1) Work history: You must disclose all work, but don't stress too much about details from decades ago. Provide what you have and explain the gaps. The SSA primarily wants to verify your son never engaged in SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity). 2) Medicaid protection is automatic when transitioning from SSI to DAC, but you must ensure the system properly codes this special status. Many beneficiaries lose coverage because of administrative errors, not actual eligibility issues. 3) Important timeline considerations: - DAC application processing: typically 3-5 months - 5-month waiting period after approval - 24-month Medicare waiting period 4) When your husband passes away, your son's benefits will indeed increase to 75% of your husband's PIA as a survivor benefit. This increase doesn't affect the Medicaid protection, but document everything during this transition as it's another point where administrative errors commonly occur. 5) The ABLE account is still beneficial for quality of life expenses and as a backup strategy if there are issues with the protected Medicaid status.