What counts toward Medicaid's 80 hours a month?
The 80-hour rule is for adults ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid adult group. You can meet it with work, school, job training, community service, or a mix of them. Here is what each one looks like.
iPhone coming soonWork
Hours at a job count. So do hours at your own business. If you would rather not count hours, earning at least $580 a month in 2026 can meet the rule too.
Volunteering and community service
Hours you give to your community count. Keep a simple record of the date, the group and the hours. log80 saves that for you, or you can use the printable hours log.
School
Being enrolled in school at least half-time counts. That can be high school, a GED class, a community college, a trade school or a four-year college.
Job training
Time in a job training or work program counts toward your 80 hours.
Mix and match (example: 50 + 20 + 10)
You do not have to do just one thing. Here is one way a month can add up:
- 50 hours of work
- 20 hours of volunteering
- 10 hours of job training
50 + 20 + 10 = 80 hours.
80 hours a month is about 18.5 hours a week
Spread over a month, 80 hours is about 18.5 hours a week, or a little under 4 hours a day if you do something five days a week. Some months have more weeks than others, so log80 adds up the whole month for you.
Check your state
States start by January 1, 2027, and some start sooner. Each state has its own start date, forms and websites. Pick yours:
Keep going
Next, see how to show your Medicaid hours, or start a record today.
iPhone coming soonQuestions
- How many hours a month do I need?
- The rule is 80 hours a month. That is about 18.5 hours a week. Your state tells you which months it looks at.
- Can I mix work, school, training and volunteering?
- Yes. Any mix of work, community service, a work program and school can add up to 80 hours. For example, 50 hours of work, 20 hours of volunteering and 10 hours of training make 80.
- Does school count?
- Yes. Being enrolled in school at least half-time counts. Ask your school or your state how half-time is set for your program.
- Does volunteering count?
- Yes. Community service counts. Write down the date, the group and the hours each time you help, so you have a record.
- What if I earn money instead of counting hours?
- Earning at least $580 a month in 2026 can also meet the rule. That is 80 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Seasonal work is counted a different way, so check with your state.
- When does it start?
- States start by January 1, 2027. Some states start sooner. Pick your state below to see its start date.
Source
Facts on this page come from the CMS fact sheet on the community engagement interim final rule (June 1, 2026). Your state Medicaid office decides the details for you.
More from log80
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.