Massachusetts Medicaid work requirement

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

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.

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

• MassHealth Federal Changes Overview
• MassHealth Federal Updates & Impact
• Mass.gov/MassHealthMemberChanges
• MA Health Connector (mahealthconnector.org)

Sources: Primary source: MassHealth member notice OB3-QLP2wr_2026-07 (dated August 1, 2026); supplemented by mass.gov MassHealthMemberChanges page.

Last checked September 2026.