SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4 News) – As the Department of Workforce Services works its way through thousands of unemployment cases, those who were on food stamps and medicaid as a result of losing their jobs, are starting to see and end to those programs.

Brooke Porter Coles, public information officer for DWFS, said all of their assistance programs have income limits and receiving benefits like unemployment insurance can impact eligibility.

Related: Some Utah food stamp recipients will get extra bump in benefits

Coles said there are however, some important things to know about the way UI payments count towards your limits.

“The additional $600 stimulus payments do not count for Medicaid eligibility (the regular UI payments do),” said Coles. “The $600 payments do count for individuals’ eligibility for SNAP (food stamps).”

Coles said they have been instructed by the Health Department not to close Medicaid cases during the pandemic unless there is a death of a recipient, they move out of state or customer requests their case be closed.

If anyone’s case has been closed (not denied), they will reopen those Medicaid cases.

The Utah Department of Heath has asked us not to close Medicaid cases during the pandemic unless there is a death of a recipient, they move out of state or customer requests their case be closed.

For anyone who loses medicaid, they are asked to contact the Federal Exchange (Obamacare). Being denied medicaid is usually considered a qualifying event, so even though the Exchange may not have an open enrollment, this would be an exception to be able to apply.

If a customer applies for Medicaid and they are determined ineligible, certain denial reasons will trigger a referral to the Federal Exchange. There are several reasons, but a few are: 1. over the income limit; 2. over the asset limit in certain situations; 3. not eligible for any other medical programs.

These denials will send a referral to the exchange and customers can shop for coverage on the exchange.

If a customer simply does not complete the application process (for example, does not return documentation to determine eligibility, or withdraws their application), these applications are NOT sent to the Federal Exchange for consideration. 

The DWS shares certain information with the Exchange as a referral such as household composition, citizenship/Social Security number(s), countable income, address, the reason for closure/denial, as well as tax information (if they have it).

Customers are encouraged to go onto the Exchange and review available plans. We also refer customers to 211 for medical resources or community clinics which charge on a sliding-fee scale as well as a few free clinics.

Individuals who have questions about their case should contact our Eligibility Services Division.