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VA MEDICAID WORKS - Work Incentive (WIN) Account

Participants in Virginia's MEDICAID WORKS program must establish a "Work Incentive" (WIN) account (which may be a regular checking or savings account with no restrictions on use of funds so they may be used as needed) at a bank or other financial institution to deposit earned income and keep financial resources in order to remain eligible for Medicaid.

Other permissible accounts include those stipulated in IRS regulations that enable qualifying individuals to get special treatment of income or savings, typically through pre-tax or post-tax advantages, such as retirement accounts, medical savings accounts, medical reimbursement accounts, education accounts, and independence accounts. Examples of these accounts include Archer Medical Savings Accounts, 401(k) accounts, traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, Thrift Savings Plans, and 503(b) plans. Access to funds in these types of accounts is restricted.

Other State-approved account types are also permissible for use as WIN accounts, should the state legislature in the future authorize some type of additional vehicle that provides opportunity for greater independence, such as that afforded by IRS-approved accounts.

NOTE: At this time, there are no State-approved account types.

The individual must provide documentation for the case record designating the account(s) as a WIN Account. The account must either be a new account or an existing account with no other income but the wages earned while in MEDICAID WORKS. It cannot contain the individual's Social Security benefits.

For earnings accumulated after enrollment in MEDICAID WORKS, up to the current 1619(b) income threshold amount will be disregarded if deposited and retained in the WIN Account.

Resources accumulated while in MEDICAID WORKS and held in designated WIN accounts are excluded.

Resources accumulated while in MEDICAID WORKS and held in IRS-designated WIN Accounts are also excluded in all future Medicaid determinations for former MEDICAID WORKS enrollees. The account must be exclusively used to hold resources accumulated while in MEDICAID WORKS (including interest) in order for the exclusion to continue.

If the individual wishes to be re-enrolled in MEDICAID WORKS after the one-year safety net period, any resources retained in the WIN Account are countable.

NOTE: Workers who have questions about WIN accounts are advised to contact their regional DSS specialist who will contact DMAS if further clarification is necessary.

Also See:

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Overview

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Agreement

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Blindness and Disability

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Cost Sharing and Premium Payment

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Employment Considerations

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Entitlement and Enrollment

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Financial Eligibility

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Good Cause Exceptions

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Non-Financial Eligibility

Virginia MEDICAID WORKS - Safety Net

VA MEDICAID WORKS - Work Incentive (WIN) Account

Source

Some information for this topic was drawn from the DMAS website at:
http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/downloads/pdfs/mb-FactSheet_Medicaid.pdf
http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/downloads/pdfs/rcp-medicaid_applicant_handbook.pdf

Additional information was drawn from Section M0320.211 of the Department of Social Services (DSS) Medicaid Manual.

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