Health and Employment Counseling: Frequently Asked Questions

The definition of working is paid employment, self-employment, or employment in exchange for goods or services at least once per calendar month. Examples include:

• A job where you get wages from an employer.
• Self-employment with a business that gives you income.
• In-kind work where you provide a service for someone in return for something of value, such as doing yard work in exchange for a meal or walking your neighbor’s dog in exchange for groceries.

Complete the HEC Application, F-00004, which is a self-assessment to help you find work. This is also called your employment plan. If you have a recent employment plan that you created with Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) or FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET), you can submit that as your employment plan. You may write the employment plan on your own or with help from someone else, such as a caseworker, benefits specialist, or vocational counselor.

For help on your employment plan, refer to the HEC Consumer Guide, P-20220A.

Submit your completed and signed application and employment plan one of these ways:

You should apply for MAPP before you apply for HEC. If you are eligible for MAPP or you are waiting for a decision on your MAPP benefits, then you can apply for HEC.

If you have not been determined eligible for Medicaid based on disability, you can apply for a disability determination through your local agency. Find a local agency near you.

It sometimes takes a few months to obtain the determination, so the sooner you start the paperwork, the sooner you can participate in MAPP and HEC. A HEC application will not be processed until after a disability determination is made. Remember, you should apply for MAPP before you request HEC to make sure you meet all the MAPP eligibility criteria.

The employment plan is a tool to help you organize your employment goals and how you plan to achieve them within a nine-month timeframe. You fill out your employment plan as part of the HEC application. You must have a completed and approved employment plan to enroll in HEC. You can also use an active employment plan that you created with Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) or FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET). Keep a copy of your approved employment plan for your records as you look for work.

HEC is intended for people who are able to find work within a short period of time. Enrollment in HEC lasts for up to nine months. At the end of nine months, you must meet the work requirement to continue to receive your Medicaid coverage through MAPP. Your nine-month enrollment period starts when we approve your employment plan. Important dates, including the start and end date of your HEC period, will be noted on the approval letter we send you.

If you feel like you are making progress but might not be employed by the end of your nine-month HEC enrollment period, you can apply for one three-month extension. To prevent any gaps in your MAPP coverage, you should apply for an extension before the end of your seventh month of enrollment. For example, if your HEC start date was January 1, you should apply for a three-month extension by the end of July. To be approved for an extension, you must apply before the HEC enrollment end date listed on your HEC approval letter.

Fill out and submit the HEC Extension Request form, F-00004A. You’ll get a letter about whether you were approved for the extension or not.

You may participate in HEC twice within a five-year period. There must be at least six months between the end of your first and the start of your second enrollment.

When you become employed during your HEC period, report this to your local agency and the HEC program coordinator right away. Fill out the HEC Employment Report form, F-00004B, and follow the instructions to send it in.