Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

The Judith Heumann Memorial Workers with Disabilities Act of 2025 would create a District of Columbia program allowing employed residents with disabilities to maintain Medicaid health coverage while earning income above current eligibility limits. It establishes a "Medicaid Buy-In" system where participants pay modest monthly premiums based on income relative to the Federal Poverty Level, avoiding the current dilemma where people earning over $1,305/month (single) or $1,763/month (two-person household) lose Medicaid coverage. Eligible individuals must be DC residents aged 16-64 with a federally defined disability, currently employed (with a temporary unemployment grace period), and enrolled through the Department of Health Care Finance. The program includes hardship exemptions for premium payments and allows "Independence Accounts" for savings toward self-sufficiency expenses, while participants receive standard Medicaid health services through participating providers.

This bill amends the District of Columbia's Universal Paid Leave Act to expand eligibility for paid leave benefits. It allows workers who are unemployed (and not receiving unemployment benefits) to qualify for leave, which previously required current employment. The change specifically adds this new eligibility category to the law's requirements and clarifies that individuals receiving unemployment benefits cannot also claim paid leave for the same period. This directly affects District workers between jobs who are not on unemployment insurance but need leave for qualifying events like childbirth or medical care.