Medicaid community engagement hours in plain words
Official pages also call the 80-hour rule a community engagement requirement, or work requirements*. It is for certain adults ages 19 to 64. States must start by January 1, 2027, unless they start sooner.
*You could qualify. Check your state's rules.
This page is not legal advice. Check with your state Medicaid agency. Your state decides who needs to meet the 80-hour rule and what proof it takes.
iPhone coming soonWhat can count in a month
CMS lists these ways to meet a month:
- Work at least 80 hours
- Community service at least 80 hours
- A work program at least 80 hours
- School at least half-time
- A mix of those that adds up to 80 hours
- Income of at least $580 in 2026 (80 × $7.25), or the seasonal-worker math
Keep your own record
Your state checks this at application and at renewal, and maybe more often. Use the 80 hours tracker so you have dates and hours ready. This is not legal advice. Check with your state Medicaid agency.
Sources
We fetched and checked these official pages on 2026-10-19.
- CMS fact sheet: Medicaid Community Engagement Requirement interim final rule (June 1, 2026)
- Federal Register, 91 FR 33348: Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals (June 3, 2026)
- Medicaid.gov: Community Engagement (CMS)
- CMS slide deck: Community Engagement Requirement interim final rule overview (posted July 27, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: federal minimum wage ($7.25 an hour)
More guides
Log80 keeps your proof in one place.
Track your hours and make a monthly report to share with your state Medicaid office. It's free, in your browser or on Android.
Log80 is not a government service and is not Medicaid. This page is not legal advice. Your state Medicaid office decides who needs to meet the rule and what proof it takes.