Start here: this may not apply to you

Many HIP members do not have to meet the new requirement at all.

You may be exempt if you are:

• Pregnant, or within 12 months of the end of a pregnancy

• A parent or caregiver of a child age 13 or younger

• A caregiver for a person with a disability

• Living with a serious physical, mental health, or medical condition

• In a drug or alcohol treatment program

• Following work rules for SNAP or TANF

• A veteran with a 100% disability rating

• A member of a federally recognized Tribe

• Under 26 and formerly in foster care

• In jail or prison, or released within the last 90 days

Other exemptions may also apply.

Indiana has a free tool that tells you in a few minutes whether the requirement applies to you.

[ Check whether this applies to me ] → hipworkscreen.in.gov/hwr

If you are exempt, you do not need to complete hours or read further. If you are not sure, take the pre-screening or call the Division of Family Resources at 1-800-403-0864. Watch a video regarding exemptions

What's changing

Beginning January 1, 2027, most HIP members ages 19 to 64 must complete 80 hours of qualifying activity each month to keep their coverage.

Qualifying activities include:

• Working a job

• Attending school at least half-time

• An apprenticeship or job training program

• Volunteering in the community

You can combine activities to reach 80 hours. Twenty hours of work, forty hours of classes, and twenty hours of volunteering add up to the same as eighty hours of any one of them.

When your hours need to start

This is the part most people find confusing, so here it is plainly.

Indiana looks back at the three months leading up to your application or renewal date. The month your hours need to start depends on when your coverage comes up.

• Renewing or applying in January 2027? You need October, November, and December 2026.

• Renewing in April 2027? You need January, February, and March 2027.

• Renewing in July 2027? You need April, May, and June 2027.

HIP renews every six months, and the state reviews hours every three months. Watch a video, “How do I stay eligible?”

If you don't know your renewal date, you can find it in your FSSA Benefits Portal account at FSSABenefits.IN.gov, or call 1-800-403-0864.

How volunteering with CWUW works

Volunteering with CWUW is one way to build qualifying hours. It is not the only way, and it does not have to be all 80.

We document time for every CWUW volunteer:

• You sign in and out at each shift

• A supervisor initials your hours

• Your hours are totaled by month

• You can request a signed verification letter any time

There are two ways to volunteer with us:

Service Volunteer — episodic support at activities and events. Apply now, receive a short on-site orientation at your first shift, and start at the next scheduled activity. (Maybe Your Best Choice)

Wellness Ambassador — ongoing, participant-facing roles. Apply now; the next training cohort begins in November.

[ Apply to volunteer ] → cwuwonline.org/volunteers

Watch a video, “How do I report my hours”

Getting your verification letter

Request a letter for any month you volunteered with us. We issue letters for the prior month by [the fifth business day of the following month].

Your letter includes your name, the dates and total hours you served, a description of the work, and a signature from a CWUW supervisor on CWUW letterhead.

[ Request my verification letter ]

We do not ask for or keep your Social Security number or your FSSA case number. If the state's portal asks for your case number, you enter it yourself when you submit.

Downloads

‍ ‍Volunteer time log — track your shifts as you go. Bring it to each shift for a supervisor to initial, or use the paper copies available at our site.

‍[ Download the time log (spreadsheet) ]

‍ ‍

How to report your hours to the state

‍ Report through the FSSA Benefits Portal at FSSABenefits.IN.gov. This is the fastest way, and it's where you upload your verification letter.

‍ ‍You can also report:‍ ‍

• By phone: 1-800-403-0864

• By mail: FSSA Document Center, PO Box 1810, Marion, IN 46952

• In person: your local Division of Family Resources office, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

‍ ‍Report any change in your work, school, health, or family situation within 10 days.

‍ ‍If you don't have a Benefits Portal account yet, set one up now rather than waiting. It's where everything happens.

‍ ‍Questions?

‍ ‍ ‍For free help understanding your coverage from a certified navigator, Covering Kids & Families of Indiana can be reached at 1-888-975-4253.

‍ ‍

Please note: CWUW documents the volunteer hours you complete with us. CWUW does not determine your eligibility for the Healthy Indiana Plan or any other benefit, and cannot advise you on your case. For official information, visit in.gov/fssa/hip/hip-work-requirements.