Medicaid Work Requirements in District of Columbia
In DC, starting January 1, 2027, most Medicaid adults ages 19 to 64 who do not have dependent children must do at least 80 hours a month of work, training, volunteering, or similar activities.
Check your situation in District of Columbia
When it starts in District of Columbia
- January 1, 2027: the requirement, 6-month renewals, and 1 month of retroactive coverage (instead of 3) begin for adults without children.
- October 2026: the DC Council held a public oversight roundtable on implementing SNAP and Medicaid work requirements.
Who has to meet it
The rule applies to people ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid adult expansion group, unless they are pregnant, have Medicare, or are exempt. You meet it in a month with 80 hours of work, community service, a work program, or school (in any mix), by going to school at least half-time, or with at least $580 in monthly income.
You are exempt if, for example, you care for a child 13 or younger or a person with a disability, are pregnant or postpartum, are American Indian or Alaska Native, are medically frail, are a veteran with a total (100%) VA disability rating or TDIU, were in foster care at 18 and are under 26, are in drug or alcohol treatment, meet SNAP or TANF work rules, or left jail or prison in the last 3 months. See the full exemption list.
Court ruling, October 29, 2026. In Massachusetts v. Oz, a federal court struck down the CMS rule's extra "significantly impairs" test for the medically frail exemption. If you are in any of the five medically frail groups in the law, you qualify. District of Columbia was one of the parties that sued, so the court also gave District of Columbia six months of relief from federal enforcement of its medically frail decisions while it updates its systems. The January 1, 2027 start date did not change, and CMS may appeal. What the ruling means.
How District of Columbia checks and how to report
Months checked: Not yet announced. DHCF says more online information is coming.
DHCF has not yet published how to report. Keep your address and contact details current through District Direct.
Other things to know in District of Columbia
- DHCF estimates the rule will apply to about 77,000 Medicaid members (Beneficiary Advisory Committee minutes, May 2026).
- The DC Healthcare Alliance is a separate, locally funded program. It is not Medicaid, and this federal rule does not cover it.
Official tools and contacts
- Report and upload: District Direct
- District Direct (address updates and general information): 202-727-5355
- DHCF main line: 202-442-5988
- DHCF: Federal changes to Medicaid
- Agency: DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)
Federal protections that apply in District of Columbia
- The state must check its own records before asking you for proof.
- If it can't confirm you meet the rule, you get a notice and at least 30 days to respond, and your coverage continues meanwhile.
- You get written notice and the right to a fair hearing before coverage ends, and you can reapply at any time.
- If you lose Medicaid for not meeting the rule, you cannot get marketplace premium tax credits for those months. Learn more.
Frequently asked questions
When do Medicaid work requirements start in District of Columbia?
January 1, 2027. Current members are usually checked at their first renewal on or after that date.
How many months does District of Columbia check?
Not yet announced. DHCF says more online information is coming.
How do I report my hours or an exemption in District of Columbia?
DHCF has not yet published how to report. Keep your address and contact details current through District Direct.
Who do I call about DC Medicaid work requirements?
District Direct (address updates and general information): 202-727-5355
DHCF main line: 202-442-5988
Can I lose DC Medicaid right away if I don't meet the requirement?
No. Federal law requires a notice, at least 30 days to show you comply or are exempt, continued coverage during that time, and fair hearing rights before coverage ends.
Sources
- DHCF: Federal changes to Medicaid
- DHCF Beneficiary Advisory Committee minutes (May 21, 2026)
- DHCF: Council oversight roundtable notice
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71119: community engagement requirement (GovInfo)
- CMS interim final rule, Medicaid community engagement requirement, 91 FR 33348 (June 3, 2026)
- Massachusetts v. Oz, No. 1:26-cv-12962-RGS (D. Mass.), memorandum and order (Oct. 29, 2026)