What is the Medicare Savings Program for Qualified Disabled Working Individuals (QDWI)?

As noted by the Social Security Administration, the Qualified Disabled Working Individuals (QDWI) program is a Medicare Savings Program that is for people who are under the age of 65, disabled, and no longer entitled to free Medicare Part A (Hospital and In-patient insurance) solely because they have returned to work.

People who qualify for the QDWI Medicare Savings Program will receive assistance paying for their Medicare Part A monthly premiums - and qualify the Medicare Part D Extra Help program.

Question:  Who qualifies for the QDWI Program?

To be eligible for the QDWI program a person must meet several criteria:

• You are a working disabled person under the age of 65.
• You lost your premium-free Medicare Part A coverage when you went back to work.
• You are not receiving medical assistance from your state.
• You meet the income and resource limits required by your state.
  
  QDWI income & resource limits in 2026:
  
  
  • Individuals:
                    monthly income limit:* $5,405 ($5,302 in 2025)
                    resource limit: $4,000
  
  
  • Married couples:
                    monthly income limit:* $7,299 ($7,135 in 2025)
                    resource limit: $6,000
  
  *Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. If you have income from working, you may qualify for benefits even if your income is higher than the limits listed.
  
  
  
  

Please note:  The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) can (and usually does) change each year so the income and resource limits for the QDWI program can change each year.

Important:  Annual changes in the FPL mean that, even if you might not have qualified for a Medicare Savings Program last year, under the new FPL, you may be able to qualify this year.

You can click here to read more about the current Federal Poverty Level.

Please also note: Income limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Other States may also have other income and/or resource requirements.

If you would like to learn more about the QDWI Medicare Savings Program, please contact your local Medicaid office or telephone the Social Security Administration at: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778) or visit www.socialsecurity.gov.

Question:  What are the other related Medicare Savings Programs?

The four Medicare Savings Programs include:


You can click here to learn more about Medicare Savings Programs on this site

(primary source: Medicare.gov)