Medicaid 80-Hour Calculator
Add up a month of work, volunteering, job training, and school to see if you meet the Medicaid work requirement, or if your income already does it for you.
Add up one month
Your month
Enter your hours or income above.
Four ways to meet the requirement in a month
| Way | What you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 80 hours total | Work, community service, a work program, and less-than-half-time school all add together. |
| School | Enrolled at least half-time | Counts by itself. Your school decides whether you are half-time. Breaks between terms still count if you are enrolled for the next term. |
| Income | $580 or more | 80 × the $7.25 federal minimum wage. Medicaid counts it the way it already counts your income (MAGI), which includes your household. |
| Seasonal average | $580 average over the past 6 months | Only for seasonal workers, such as farm workers or people hired only for the holiday season. |
How part-time school hours are counted
If you go to school less than half-time, the CMS rule turns your classes into hours:
- Programs with credit hours: each credit hour counts as 3 hours a week, and a month is 4.33 weeks. One 3-credit class = 3 × 3 × 4.33 = 39 hours a month.
- Programs without credits: the time you spend in class and in educational activities counts.
Example: a 3-credit class (39 hours) plus 41 hours at a part-time job = 80 hours. That month counts.
When your pay is turned into hours
If you earn less than $580 and your state has no record of your hours, the CMS rule lets the state divide your monthly income by $7.25 to estimate hours worked. For example, $380 ÷ $7.25 = about 52 hours, so you would need 28 more hours from another activity. States are not required to do this, so ask yours. The calculator shows this as a "pay as hours" note.
Examples
| Situation | Month counts? |
|---|---|
| Delivery app driver, 25 hours a week (about 108 hours) | Yes, by hours |
| Part-time cashier earning $620 | Yes, by income |
| Food bank volunteer 40 hours + 1 three-credit class (39 hours) | Not yet: 79 hours, 1 short. One more volunteer hour makes the month count. |
| Community college, 6 credits (half-time at that school) | Yes, by half-time school |
| Farm worker who earned $4,200 over the past 6 months, little this month | Yes, seasonal average of $700 |
Need to check exemptions too? Use the full work requirement checker.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week is 80 hours a month?
About 18.5 hours a week (80 ÷ 4.33). You do not have to spread it evenly. What matters is the total for the month.
Do hours carry over from one month to the next?
No. Each month is counted on its own. But you usually only need to meet the rule in one month (or a few, depending on your state) out of the period your state checks.
Does gig work count?
Yes. The CMS rule says you do not need to be an employee. Self-employment, owning a business, and independent contractor work all count as work. Keep app records or statements that show your hours or earnings.
Is the $580 income before or after taxes?
Medicaid uses its usual income method (modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI), which starts from income before taxes. For self-employment, Medicaid generally counts net earnings after business expenses.
Will the $580 change if the minimum wage goes up?
Only if the federal minimum wage changes. The law uses the federal minimum wage in effect at the time, which is $7.25 an hour. State minimum wages do not change the $580 amount.
Who counts as a seasonal worker?
The law uses the federal tax code definition: someone who works on a seasonal basis, such as agricultural workers and retail workers hired only for the holiday season. If you qualify, your average monthly income over the past 6 months must be at least $580.