Many people with disabilities want to work but worry that doing so could jeopardize their vital health and long term care coverage. Working Healthy employment supports offer people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to keep Medicaid coverage while on the job. Through Working Healthy people can earn more, save more, achieve their career goals, and still maintain their health coverage.
Working Healthy employment supports and programs are KanCare programs and eligibility includes Medicaid coverage and assistance with the costs of some Medicare programs.
Working Healthy works everyday to bust these myths:
- Social Security doesn't allow you to work.
Not True! Social Security has provided these work incentive programs to encourage people with disabilities to work.
- Disability benefits will end if you go to work.
Not True! Working Healthy Benefits Specialists can provide counseling, so you will understand how earnings may affect your benefits.
- A person with a disability is too ill to work.
Not True! Disability is not an illness. Many people with disabilities have health conditions that improve with the benefits of employment.
- It is more difficult and/or more expensive to hire someone with a disability as opposed to someone without a disability.
Not True! Most accommodations requested of employers to support an employee with a disability are inexpensive.
Working Healthy employment supports and programs are voluntary. By offering Benefits Counseling, at no cost, we want to assure that you can make an informed decision about whether these would be programs that meet your needs and goals.
If you are interested in learning more about Working Healthy and how you can work and keep your current benefits, it is best to talk with a Working Healthy Benefits Specialist. Here is a link to more information.
Benefits Specialists
Working Healthy -- Work incentive program for people with disabilities who want to maintain their benefits.
WORK Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK) -- Program with services for people who enroll in Working Healthy and need personal Services.
Supports and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) -- New program of supports and training to assist people to explore, achieve and maintain employment.