Medicaid work requirement FAQ
Plain answers about the 80-hour rule. Most states by January 2027; some sooner or later; check yours. Your state Medicaid office has the final word.
Common questions
Do I have to log exactly 80 hours?
The federal rule asks for 80 hours a month of work, a work program, community service, or school, or a mix of them. Your state may have its own details. Log80 shows your running total so you know where you stand.
What if I miss a month?
Your logs stay in your account. If you need to explain a gap, talk to your state Medicaid office. Log80 gives you records of what you logged.
Do I need my employer to sign anything?
Not for Log80. You track your own time and make your own report. Ask your state Medicaid office what proof they accept.
Is my information safe?
We work to keep it safe. Your logs are private to your account. Log80 support staff can see them when they help with your account. We never sell your hours or reports, and we never send them to ad companies.
Does caregiving count?
Caregiving hours don't count toward the 80 hours. But if you care for a child 13 or younger, or for someone with a disability, you may not have to meet the rule at all. Choose that in Log80 setup, and tell your state Medicaid office.
What do I do with the report?
Download or print it. Give it to your state Medicaid office if they ask, like at renewal. Ask them how often they need it.
When it starts and where
When does the rule start in my state?
Most states by January 2027; some sooner or later; check yours. Our state pages list the start date we found for each state, with links to the state Medicaid office.
Does the rule apply in every state?
The federal rule mainly applies to adults ages 19 to 64 who get Medicaid through the expansion group. In states that have not expanded Medicaid, most members are likely not affected, but some special programs may be. Check your state's page and ask your state Medicaid office.
What counts toward 80 hours
Does volunteering count?
Yes. Community service counts under the federal rule. This usually means unpaid work for a nonprofit, public school, library, or other community group. Examples are food pantries, soup kitchens, blood drives, and animal shelters run by nonprofits or the government. Your state may have its own list.
Does school or job training count?
Yes. Under the federal rule, being enrolled in school at least half-time counts for the month, even if you do not log 80 hours. Full-time counts too. This includes college, community college, and trade or vocational school. High school or GED classes may also count, depending on your state. You may need to show proof that you are enrolled, like a letter or class schedule from your school. Job training programs can count too. Rules can be different in each state, so check with your state Medicaid office (like MassHealth). Log your hours under School or Job Training.
I get paid in cash or do odd jobs. Does that count?
Paid work counts under the federal rule, even cash jobs. Log your hours under "Work" even if you don't have a W-2. Your state may also ask for proof of pay, so keep any receipts or records.
I don't have a pay stub. How do I prove I'm working?
Log80 saves every log with the date, time, and activity type, and puts them in a monthly report you can hand in to your state Medicaid office. Your state may still ask for other proof, like pay records. Ask them what they accept.
About Log80
Is Log80 a government app?
No. Log80 is a free app. It is not Medicaid, and no government runs it. It does not decide your benefits. Your state Medicaid office makes those decisions.
Does Log80 send my hours to Medicaid?
No. Log80 does not send your hours to Medicaid or anyone else. You download or print your report and decide what to share.
Is Log80 free?
Yes. Log80 is free to use. No credit card is needed.
Does Log80 work with my state's requirements?
Reports show activity type, date, start and stop times, total hours, and a monthly summary. Totals are measured against the federal rule of 80 hours a month. Your state may have its own details, so ask your state Medicaid office what they need.
Will logging hours affect my other benefits?
Log80 is a record-keeping tool, not a benefits system. Your logs don't get sent anywhere automatically. You decide when and what to share.
Your state's rules
State requirements
Your state's Medicaid rules
MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid)
Massachusetts
MassHealth members ages 19–64 who are not pregnant, do not have children younger than 14, and do not have a qualifying disability. You must meet requirements for at least one month between your last renewal and your next renewal.
- Work 80+ hours/month (paid or unpaid, including work done for goods or services)
- MassHealth determines your income to be $580+ per month (regardless of hours worked; seasonal workers: average $580/month over a 6-month period)
- Volunteer 80+ hours/month at a non-partisan public or nonprofit organization (e.g., soup kitchen, blood drive)
- Participate in an approved job training program (to learn skills to get a job) for 80+ hours/month
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an educational program: high school, GED program, community college, or four-year college
- Do a total of work, volunteer, work program, or school hours of 80+ hours/month (any combination)
- Age 65 or older
- Age 18 or younger
- Pregnant or less than 12 months postpartum (regardless of pregnancy outcome)
- Parent who provides care to a child younger than 14 or a disabled individual
- Guardian of a child younger than 14 or a disabled individual
- "Caretaker relative" — related to and primary caregiver for a child younger than 14 or a disabled individual who lives with you
- "Family caregiver" — lives with and provides regular care to a child younger than 14 or disabled individual, AND is related to that child/individual AND provides at least 80 hours of care/month
- Living with a disability that seriously limits ability to perform daily tasks (bathing, dressing, eating) without help
- Alcohol or drug addiction
- Serious mental health condition (e.g., schizophrenia or major depression)
- Serious or complex medical condition requiring frequent care (e.g., cancer or heart failure)
- Blindness or disability based on Social Security rules
- Eligible for Medicare Part A
- Enrolled in Medicare Part B
- Younger than 26 and had Medicaid when you aged out of foster care
- Receiving TAFDC cash help and meeting TAFDC work rules
- Served in U.S. Armed Forces with a total disability rating from the VA
- Member of a household receiving SNAP benefits where DTA says you must meet work rules
- Participating in certain substance use disorder treatment and rehabilitation programs
- Inmate of a public institution, or were an inmate in the previous three months
- Certain American Indians or Alaska Natives
MassHealth will first check its own records and data sources to see if you are exempt from or meeting requirements. If they do not have enough information, they will ask you for more information as part of your renewal. In some cases, they may request additional proof that you are exempt from or meeting work and education requirements. For volunteering specifically: starting in 2027, if you have to report volunteering, you report the activity, the months, and the hours — and generally won't initially have to submit supporting documentation. Verification rules are expected to tighten in 2028.
- Start tracking work, community service, work program, and school hours now — be ready to show you meet requirements at your next renewal
- Gather important medical or legal documents in case you need to show you qualify for an exemption
- Make sure MassHealth has your current mailing address, cell phone number, and email address
- Log in to www.mahealthconnector.org to review your household's information and make changes
- Report any changes in circumstances (pregnancy, immigration status, disability status, household changes) to MassHealth
Sources: Primary source: MassHealth member notice OB3-QLP2wr_2026-07 (dated August 1, 2026); supplemented by mass.gov MassHealthMemberChanges page.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Not legal advice. Verify your state's specific requirements with your Medicaid agency before making coverage decisions.
Log80 helps you keep organized proof.
Log your hours and make a monthly report you can share with your state Medicaid office. Free.
Log80 is not a government service and is not Medicaid. This page is not legal advice. Your state Medicaid office decides who must meet the rule and what proof it accepts.