Quick answer. The federal Medicaid community engagement requirement asks certain adults aged 19 to 64 to show 80 hours a month of work, community service or a work program, or half-time school, or monthly income of at least $580. States must begin it by January 1, 2027. Add up a month of your activity below.
Count a month of hours
Enter your hours for the month.
This adds up what you enter and sets it beside the federal figures. Your state agency decides who has to meet the requirement, which months it looks at and what proof it accepts.
Which activities count
From the CMS fact sheet on the interim final rule (CMS-2454-IFC, June 1, 2026) and the medicaid.gov overview, an applicable individual meets the requirement for a month by any of these:
- Working at least 80 hours
- Completing at least 80 hours of community service
- Taking part in a work program for at least 80 hours
- Any combination of work, community service and a work program totaling 80 hours
- Being enrolled in an educational program at least half-time
- Having monthly income of at least the federal minimum wage times 80 hours ($7.25 x 80 = $580). Seasonal workers may use their average monthly income over the past 6 months.
Who it applies to, and who is exempt
It applies to non-pregnant adults aged 19 to 64 who are in the Medicaid adult (expansion) group or certain section 1115 demonstrations and aren't entitled to or enrolled in Medicare. The federal rule lists these exempt groups: former foster care youth; American Indians and Alaska Natives; parents, guardians, caretaker relatives or family caregivers of a child 13 or under or of a person with a disability; veterans with a total disability rating; people who are medically frail or have special medical needs; people meeting TANF work requirements; members of SNAP households meeting SNAP work rules; people in drug or alcohol treatment; inmates of a public institution; and people who are pregnant or postpartum. States may also adopt short-term hardship exceptions.
On October 29, 2026 a federal court in Massachusetts v. Oz vacated part of the rule's medically frail definition and paused medically frail determinations for six months. The court said it did not change the January 1, 2027 start date. Check your state agency for how it now handles that exemption.
How often it's verified
States verify at application and at renewal, and may verify more often. They must use data they already have before asking for documents. Adults in this group renew every 6 months instead of 12, starting with renewals on or after January 1, 2027. If compliance can't be verified, the state sends a notice and gives 30 calendar days to show compliance or an exemption.
New Jersey
New Jersey has announced its plan on the NJ FamilyCare work requirements page (updated October 2026). It applies to certain adults 19 to 64 on NJ FamilyCare Plan ABP. The first people affected are those who apply on or after January 1, 2027 and current members with a March 2027 renewal. NJ FamilyCare says it checks its records first and asks for proof only when it can't confirm activity, accepts a sworn statement at first, and will require documents starting January 1, 2028. It offers an Activity Requirements Checker at njfcchecker.nj.gov.
Sources
- CMS fact sheet: Medicaid Community Engagement Requirement interim final rule, CMS-2454-IFC (June 1, 2026)
- Medicaid.gov: Community engagement requirements overview (slides)
- NJ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services: Work requirements for NJ FamilyCare
- Massachusetts v. Oz, No. 26-12962-RGS (D. Mass. Oct. 29, 2026), memorandum and order (posted by the NY Attorney General)
General information checked November 2026 against the CMS, medicaid.gov and nj.gov pages above. Not legal or benefits advice, and not affiliated with CMS or NJ FamilyCare. The counter runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent or saved.
Common questions
When does the Medicaid work requirement start?
Under section 1902(xx) of the Social Security Act, states must begin the community engagement requirement by January 1, 2027, and may start sooner. New Jersey says it starts January 1, 2027 for new applicants and with March 2027 renewals for current NJ FamilyCare members.
What counts toward the 80 hours?
Work, community service and a work program count, alone or combined. Half-time enrollment in an educational program also meets the requirement, as does monthly income of at least the federal minimum wage times 80 hours, which is $580.
Who doesn't have to meet it?
The federal rule lists groups including pregnant and postpartum individuals, parents and caretakers of a child 13 or under or of a person with a disability, people who are medically frail, veterans with a total disability rating, American Indians and Alaska Natives, former foster youth, and people meeting TANF or SNAP work rules. The state decides who is exempt.
How often is it checked?
The state checks at application and at renewal, and may check more often. Adults in this group renew every 6 months instead of 12. If the state can't verify, it must send a notice and allow 30 calendar days to respond.
Do I have to meet 80 hours every month in New Jersey?
NJ FamilyCare's page says you do not need to meet the requirement every month and that one qualifying month since your last renewal is needed. Check your renewal packet for the months it asks about.