Medicaid is different state to state.  Generally, there is a resource limit of about $2,000, and an income limit.  States vary wildly on the income limit and things that they will waive to discount from the income.  It is possible he can qualify with a monthly spend-down (similar to a deductible).  SSDI is without regard to income or resources.  It is based on disability and work history.  You must be off work d/t disability for 5 months, but do not wait to apply.  Sometimes it takes every bit of this long to receive the first payment.  Also, if you are denied, do not forget about it or start over later.  Appeal.  A great number of appeals are granted (without an attorney).

He will need your help in this.  Do you have a POA or HCR?  If not, you should consider getting this in place for many reasons.  This is also s/w different state to state.  In this state, there is no attorney needed, the HCR requires a witness and the POA requires a notary.  You can find both forms on line, but I would certainly check out the laws in your state.  Be prepared for lots of work w/ benefits.  It seems, more often than not, it is a great headache to get them in line.  You will need to check frequently and ensure the medical records are being sent/received.  I have been known to hand currier them to ensure they got there.

There are more benefits available if you are low income.  There should be some sort of resource line in your area to help you know what is available.

I forgot about fast-track.  You can pull money out of a mutual fund, but that may or may not be of benefit to you.  In our state, they go back 3 years for resources, and money in an HSA would certainly count as a resource.  However, if it is being used as income, it might be a "get around".  You can also look in you area for an atty. that specializes in this.  I would suggest an Elder Law atty. as they are well versed in this area- esp. protecting assets.  They tend to be a bit expensive though- but I would think one appt would be all you need.  I would advise avoiding the "I'll get your disability" attornies advertiesed on TV.  Not that they are necessarily bad, but they take 1/3 of SS pay and you can probably get it w/o them.

Spend down is r/t Medicaid, and might be an Indiana term.  Basically, you spend out of pocket on medical bills until you reach an acceptable income level then Medicaid kicks in.  So, if you are $200 over the monthly income limit and your medical bills are expected to exceed this every month, you would be expected to pay that much toward the bills.  Very similar to a deductible, but monthly.

you might check around for other benefits in your area.  Some are very generous with their income allowance.  If you are lower middle, there is likely some assistance available.  Some places will count you and some wwon't d/t marital status.

yes, from what I understood my situation to be is that I didn't work enough(in the last few years) to have enough work credits in order to qualify me for tha disability part but did qualify for a lesser ssi amount and coulld not have over $2000 in assets.  Also medicaid kicked in and then picked an ins. under that. It was a godsend that's for sure to be able to get what I have gotten , I don't know how I wold have survived without it.  It's all so complicated to understand but the hospital set me up with a financial guy through the state and he just put the paperwork in order and sent it in even expedited it becaus e it was cancer and treatment was needed asap.

It can be so overwhelming.  As I previously stated, my husband did qualify for ssdi since he had enough work credits.  The information I recieved indicated that he would qualify for medicare based on the ssdi in 2 years.

We are lucky in that we have a private (not a group plan through an employer) plan with our insurance and not a plan that was linked with my husband's work, although our insurance premiums are extremely expensive.   I don't know what people do when their cobra runs out.  Do they go onto medicaid untill they qualify for medicare?