Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI) in Santa Clara County

A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.

UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.

What to know

Why it may fit: Your circumstances can be checked against the program’s published guidelines.
What to do next: QDWI pays your Medicare Part A premium. It is for working people under 65 with a disability who lost free Part A. You apply through your county.
Who runs it: Santa Clara County / DHCS

What the program may consider

You are under 65, have a disability, and went back to work and lost premium-free Part A
QDWI income limit, after income that does not count
California 2026 resource rule

How to get it

QDWI pays your Medicare Part A premium. It is for working people under 65 with a disability who lost free Part A. You apply through your county.

Before you start

Apply for this first Original Medicare. Sign up at Social Security for the Part A you pay for. It is for people who lost free Part A because of work.

How to apply

California's one application for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid

Online it is BenefitsCal. On paper it is the SAWS 2 PLUS. One application can ask for several programs at once.

The same application can also ask for CalFresh Food, CalWORKs, Extra Help with Medicare drug costs, General Assistance, Aged, Blind and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal and 11 more.

OnlineBenefitsCal websiteApply online for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid, any time of day.
PhoneSocial Security: 1-800-772-1213TTY 1-800-325-0778
PhoneSanta Clara County benefits line: (408) 758-3800Apply or ask questions by phone, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FaxSanta Clara County benefits fax: (408) 295-9248
MailSanta Clara County benefits mail: P.O. Box 11018, San Jose, CA 95103
In personSanta Clara County benefits offices: 1867 Senter Rd, San Jose; 1330 W. Middlefield Rd, Mountain View; 379 Tomkins Ct, Gilroy

Getting help

Someone can apply for you

Anyone can help you fill out the application. You can also name a person or an organization to act for you on form MC 382. They can sign your application and renewals, send papers, and ask about your case. You can limit what they may do. They get copies of your letters only if you ask on the form. You can cancel at any time. In Santa Clara County, a name typed into a helper's own app does not count as your signature. Sign in ink, by phone with the county, or through an approved e-signing service.

You can name a person or an organization to act for you: ask for Appointment of Authorized Representative (MC 382).

What happens after you apply

Sign up at Social Security for the Part A you pay for yourself. This Part A is for people who lost free Part A because of work.
Within 7 months of Social Security's letter that free Part A is ending. After that, from January to March.
Social SecurityA helper can help with this
The county gets your application. The state may also tell the county that you might qualify.
The county
The county may mail you forms to sign and a list of papers to send. Send them by the due date on the letter. They may ask for proof of your work income, your disability, and your savings.
Only if the county needs more from you
The countyA helper can help with this You get 10 days. If you miss it, the county contacts you once more and gives 10 more days.
You get a letter that says yes or no.
The countyWithin 45 days of the day you applied.
QDWI can start the month you applied. It can also cover up to 3 months before that, if you had this Part A then.
The county
The state starts paying your Part A premium to Medicare. You stop paying it yourself.
The stateAbout 2 months after the county approves it. This can vary.

What only you can do

Sign up at Social Security for the Part A you pay for yourself.
Sign the application, or sign form MC 382 so a helper can sign for you.
Give proof of your work income, your disability, and your savings when the county asks.
Tell the county within 10 days if your income, savings, or work changes.
Send back your yearly renewal form and any proof the county asks for.

How long it takes: About 2 to 4 months after you have the special Part A. The county decides within 45 days.
You are enrolled when: You have a QDWI approval letter, and the state pays your Part A premium. QDWI does not pay Part B, deductibles or copays. It comes with no Medi-Cal card, and it does not give you Extra Help automatically.
To keep it: The county checks again each year, including your savings. You must be under 65, keep working, and have the same disability. Report changes within 10 days.

Can’t be combined with

Aged, Blind and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal. QDWI is not for people who have Medi-Cal with no share of cost. A share of cost is an amount you pay each month before Medi-Cal pays.
250% Working Disabled Medi-Cal (CWD). QDWI is not for people who have Medi-Cal with no share of cost.
Pickle Amendment protection. QDWI is not for people who have Medi-Cal with no share of cost.
Disabled Adult Child protection. QDWI is not for people who have Medi-Cal with no share of cost.
Disabled Widow or Widower protection. QDWI is not for people who have Medi-Cal with no share of cost.
Aged, Blind and Disabled Medically Needy Medi-Cal. QDWI is not for people whose Medi-Cal share of cost is met.

Coming changes

Starting January 1, 2027: For applications from January 1, 2027, QDWI can pay for only 2 months back, not 3.
Starting January 4, 2027: Some people who are not citizens lose Medicare on January 4, 2027. Citizens and green card holders keep it. Without Medicare, QDWI ends too.
Starting July 1, 2027: Starting July 1, 2027, the Medi-Cal savings limit drops to $21,000 for one person and $31,000 for a couple. Today it is $130,000 and $195,000. It is not yet known if the new limit applies to QDWI.