U.S. · Pennsylvania · Medicaid · 2027
Pennsylvania Medicaid work requirements 2027.
The start date, the 80-hour rule, the exemptions PA DHS lists, and where to report, with a tracker for your month.
Pennsylvania’s Medicaid work requirement starts January 1, 2027. Adults 19 to 64 without a child under 14 who do not qualify for an exemption must show 80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program or school, or $580 a month in income. You report at application and at your first renewal in 2027.
Your month
Does this month count?
What changes on January 1, 2027
A federal law passed in July 2025 requires states to add a community engagement requirement for adults in the Medicaid expansion group. CMS published the rule that explains how it works as an interim final rule on June 3, 2026, effective July 31, 2026. States must start by January 1, 2027 unless CMS grants a temporary good faith exemption, which cannot run past December 31, 2028. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) says it will begin on schedule.
| Date | What happens in Pennsylvania (per PA DHS) |
|---|---|
| From August 2026 | PA DHS contacts affected recipients by mail, text and automated calls. |
| January 1, 2027 | Work requirements take effect for adults 19 to 64 with no dependent child under 14 who do not meet an exemption. Coverage does not change automatically that day. |
| Next renewal in 2027 | Current recipients report that they meet the requirement or an exemption. |
| Renewal in or after February 2027 | Affected adults move to six-month renewals. |
| January 1, 2027 | Retroactive coverage shrinks to one month for expansion adults and two months for others. |
How the 80 hours are counted
Under the federal rule (42 CFR 435.552), a month counts if you do any one of these: work at least 80 hours; complete at least 80 hours of community service; take part in a work program for at least 80 hours; be enrolled at least half-time in school; combine work, service and program hours to reach 80; or have monthly income of at least the federal minimum wage times 80 hours, which is $7.25 × 80 = $580. PA DHS words the income route as household monthly income of at least $580, while the rule text refers to the individual’s income, so ask your caseworker which applies to you. Seasonal workers can use average monthly income over the previous six months. If you are enrolled less than half-time, each credit hour counts as 3 hours a week, multiplied by 4.33 weeks.
Worked examples
62 hours of work plus 20 hours of volunteering is 82 hours, so the month counts. 70 hours of work and nothing else is 10 hours short, but if that work paid $600 the income route is met instead. A 6-credit student enrolled less than half-time counts 6 × 3 × 4.33 = 77.9 hours, so 3 more hours of work reaches 80.9. Use the tracker above to test your own month. It is arithmetic only; PA DHS decides whether you meet the requirement.
Who is exempt
PA DHS lists these people as exempt: parents or caretakers of a child under 14 or of a person with a disability; people who are pregnant or in postpartum Medicaid coverage; members of American Indian or Alaska Native tribes; veterans with a VA-determined total disability; people in treatment for alcohol or substance use disorder; people who were in prison or jail in the last 4 months; former foster youth under 26; people meeting TANF work requirements; people receiving SNAP who are subject to SNAP work requirements; and people who are medically frail, which includes blindness or disability, a disabling mental disorder, or a serious or complex medical condition. Temporary hardships, such as a recent stay in a hospital or care facility or travel for medical treatment, also qualify.
How to report
You tell PA DHS at application and at each renewal. DHS tries to confirm work and exemptions from information it already has. If it needs more, it sends a letter and you have 30 days. You can call 877-395-8930 (215-560-7226 in Philadelphia), upload documents at the COMPASS website or in the myCOMPASS PA app, or mail or bring them to your County Assistance Office. Check your address in COMPASS now and report any move to the Postal Service so the notices reach you.
Limits of this page
This is a summary of two official pages, not a decision about your coverage. The federal rule is interim, the state may change its procedures, and exemptions depend on documents DHS must see. Call the PA DHS HR1 FAQ line at 1-877-883-6383 if your case is unusual.
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When do Pennsylvania Medicaid work requirements start?
January 1, 2027. PA DHS says Medicaid coverage will not automatically change on January 1. Current recipients report that they meet the requirement or an exemption at their next renewal date in 2027, and applicants report when they apply.
How many hours do I need for Pennsylvania Medicaid?
80 hours a month of work, volunteering or community service, a work training program, or school, or any combination of those. Going to school at least half-time meets the whole requirement on its own. You can also meet it with monthly income of at least $580.
Who is exempt from the Pennsylvania Medicaid work requirement?
PA DHS lists parents or caretakers of a child under 14 or of a person with a disability, people who are pregnant or in postpartum Medicaid coverage, members of American Indian or Alaska Native tribes, veterans with a VA-determined total disability, people in treatment for alcohol or substance use disorder, people who were in prison or jail in the last 4 months, former foster youth under 26, people meeting TANF or SNAP work requirements, and people who are medically frail. Short-term hardship exemptions also exist, such as a recent hospital stay.
How do I report my hours to PA DHS?
Call 877-395-8930 (215-560-7226 in Philadelphia), upload documents through the COMPASS website or the myCOMPASS PA app, or mail or bring documents to your County Assistance Office. If DHS needs more information it sends a letter and you have 30 days to respond.
What happens if I do not report?
PA DHS says people who must meet the requirement but do not follow the rules or report could lose Medicaid coverage or be found ineligible.
Does this apply to everyone on Medicaid in Pennsylvania?
No. PA DHS says it applies to adults 19 to 64 who do not have a dependent child under 14 and do not meet an exemption. The federal rule also leaves out people on Medicare and people who are pregnant.
Will I renew my Medicaid every six months?
Some adults 19 to 64 will. PA DHS says current recipients switch to six-month renewals after completing their next renewal in or after February 2027, and new applicants on or after January 1, 2027 renew in six months.
Not legal or benefits advice
This page is general information, not legal advice or a determination of Medicaid eligibility. Rules and procedures can change. Confirm your own situation with PA DHS, your County Assistance Office or a benefits counselor. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.