Illinois Medicaid work requirement

Illinois Medicaid ACA adult expansion members ages 19–64 who do not receive Medicare and who do not have a dependent child age 13 or under at home. Work requirements are a condition of eligibility at application and at each 6-month redetermination starting in 2027. You must meet requirements in at least 1 month of your 6-month eligibility period.

• Work 80+ hours/month (paid or unpaid, including self-employment or work for goods/services)
• Community service / volunteering at a public or non-profit organization — 80+ hours/month
• Participation in an approved job training or workforce program — 80+ hours/month
• Enrollment in an educational program at least half-time (high school, GED, community college, vocational, or four-year college)
• Any combination of the above totaling 80+ hours/month
• Income ≥ $580/month (federal minimum wage × 80 hours) — regardless of hours tracked; seasonal workers may average $580/month over the prior 6 months

• Pregnant or less than 12 months postpartum
• Parent or caregiver of a child 13 years old or younger
• American Indian / Alaska Native
• Former foster care youth under age 26
• Person with a disability or serious medical or mental health condition
• Participating in a SUD treatment program
• Already meeting TANF work requirements
• Currently incarcerated or released within the prior 3 months

Caring for a child 13 or younger, or for a person with a disability, is usually an exemption. Caregiving hours are not counted toward the 80 hours.

Illinois HFS will check your Manage My Case account (abe.illinois.gov) to verify compliance or exemption. By January 2027, you will be able to request exemptions and upload work documents through Manage My Case. Illinois accepts self-attestation for most exemptions. If the state can't confirm you met the rule, it must send you a notice first. You then have 30 days from when you get the notice to show that you met the rule, or that you have an exemption or don't have to meet it. If you already have Medicaid, it keeps going while the state decides.

• Visit hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/medicaidguide/changes.html for the official member guidance page
• Create or log in to your Manage My Case account at abe.illinois.gov to check your coverage category and redetermination date
• Start tracking work, volunteer, education, or training hours each month now
• Watch your mail — HFS will send you a notice if you are in the affected group
• Report life changes (pregnancy, disability, household changes) through Manage My Case

• Illinois HFS — New Medicaid Changes
• Manage My Case (Illinois Medicaid portal)

Sources: Illinois HFS (hfs.illinois.gov). CMS IFC CMS-2454-IFC.

Last checked September 2026.