What Counts Toward the 80-Hour Medicaid Work Requirement?
Most people worry they don't do enough of one thing to reach 80 hours. The good news in the federal rule is that you don't have to. Work, volunteering, a work program and school can be added together, and a paycheck of $580 or more in a month counts on its own. Here is what counts, what doesn't, and who doesn't have to report at all, so you can see where you already stand.
What counts
Under the federal rule, you meet the requirement for a month if you do any one of these:
| Way | What it means |
|---|---|
| Work 80 hours | Work for money, work in exchange for goods or services, or unpaid work. You don't have to be an employee: self-employed, independent contractor and gig work count. |
| Community service 80 hours | Unpaid work with a structured program run by a public or nonprofit organization that tracks your dates, hours and a contact who can confirm them. It can't be partisan. |
| Work program 80 hours | For example, job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), SNAP Employment and Training, or a veterans' employment program. Job searching on its own doesn't count as a work program. |
| School at least half time | College, career and technical education, high school, or a state-approved high school equivalency program. Your school decides your enrollment status. |
| Any mix totaling 80 hours | For example, 50 hours of work plus 30 hours of volunteering. |
| Income of $580 or more | Monthly income of at least 80 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 an hour, so $580 in 2026). |
| Seasonal workers | Average monthly income over the past 6 months of at least $580. |
School less than half time
If your school says you are below half time, your class hours can still go toward the 80. The federal rule counts each credit hour as 3 hours a week, then multiplies by 4.33 weeks. So 4 credit hours count as about 52 hours a month (4 x 3 x 4.33). For programs without credit hours, the time you spend in class and educational activities counts.
Add up your month
80 hours a month is about 20 hours a week. A quick way to check yourself:
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Part-time job, 3 shifts of 4 hours a week | 52 |
| Delivery app, weekend evenings | 18 |
| Food bank volunteering, Saturday mornings | 12 |
| Total | 82, meets the rule |
If your pay for the month is $580 or more, you meet the rule on income alone, whatever the hours.
Who doesn't have to report
CMS lists these groups as exempt from the federal requirement. Your state confirms who qualifies.
- Parents, guardians, caretaker relatives or family caregivers of a child 13 or under, or of a person with a disability
- People who are medically frail or have special medical needs that make it hard to comply
- People who are pregnant or getting postpartum coverage
- Veterans with a total disability rating
- Former foster care youth
- American Indians and Alaska Natives
- People meeting TANF work rules, or in a household getting SNAP who are not exempt from SNAP's work rules
- People in a drug or alcohol treatment program
- People who are in jail or prison
The rule also only covers ages 19 to 64, and not people on Medicare. States may also offer short-term hardship exceptions, for example during an inpatient hospital stay, in a county with a declared disaster or high unemployment, or when you must travel far for serious medical care.
What usually doesn't count
- Job searching by itself, outside an approved work program
- Volunteering that isn't organized through a public or nonprofit program that tracks your hours
- Political campaign work as community service
When something is unclear, ask your state before the month ends, not after.
Free: a printable monthly hours log
We made a two-page log sheet you can print or fill in by hand: one line per day, columns for the activity, start and end time, hours, pay, who can confirm it and what proof you kept, plus month totals and a signature line. It is free, with no sign-up and no email.
| Date | Activity | Start | End | Hours | Pay (if any) | Who can confirm | Proof kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: Mar 3 | Job | 9:00 | 2:30 | 5.5 | $66 | Store manager, name and phone | Pay stub |
| Example: Mar 4 | Gig | 5:00 | 9:00 | 4 | $58 | Delivery app account | Screenshot of trips |
| Example: Mar 6 | Volunteer | 10:00 | 1:00 | 3 | Food bank volunteer lead | Sign-in sheet | |
Common questions
Can I combine work and volunteering?
Yes. Work, community service, a work program and school hours can be added together. You need 80 hours in total for the month.
Does gig or self-employed work count?
Yes. The federal rule says you don't have to be an employee. Self-employed, independent contractor and gig work all count as work. Keep records of your hours.
Does caring for someone count?
Parents and family caregivers of a child 13 or under or of a person with a disability are exempt. CMS also says some unpaid caregiving for a child or disabled person who isn't your relative and doesn't live with you can count as unpaid work. Ask your state how it checks this.
What if I only work part of the month?
What matters is the monthly total. If one job ends mid-month, other work, volunteering, a work program or school can make up the rest. Or $580 of income in the month meets the rule on its own.
When does this start?
States must start by January 1, 2027, and a state can choose to start earlier. Check your state's Medicaid page for its date.
80 Hours and this guide are made by VNCNT Labs. We are not a government agency and are not connected to any state Medicaid or SNAP office. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state, and your state decides who must report, what counts and what proof it accepts.
Official sources
- CMS: Medicaid community engagement requirement interim final rule, fact sheet (CMS-2454-IFC)
- Federal Register: Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals (June 3, 2026)
- Medicaid.gov: Community engagement
- Medicaid.gov: Where can people get help with Medicaid and CHIP (state contacts)