Ask your FTW case manager to clearly explain what is expected of you. The number of required hours and the activities that count depend on your individual circumstances.
Important Notes
Review these points before using the charts below.
FTW Hours Only
This page refers only to hours required for First-to-Work participation.
Childcare Is Separate
Hours required for childcare reimbursements are calculated separately.
Ask FTW
Your FTW case manager makes final determinations about your requirements.
Work-Hour Sections
Choose the household type that matches your situation.
Single-Parent Households
Review common FTW requirements for single-parent households.
Two Parents: One Adult Work Required
Review requirements when only one adult in a two-parent household is work required.
Two Parents: Both Adults Work Required
Review requirements when both adults in a two-parent household are work required.
Basic Questions
How many hours do I need to work?
Ask your FTW case manager to clearly explain what is expected of you. The number of required hours and the activities that count toward FTW requirements depend on your individual circumstances.
See the charts below for more details, including academic activities that may require signatures. Check with your campus BTH coordinator to discuss options for who can sign verification paperwork.
The childcare subsidy program may require 87 hours per month, or about 21.5 hours per week, to receive maximum benefits for some types of childcare assistance. There may be more flexibility with licensed and accredited childcare providers.
What are 鈥渃ore鈥 hours?
Core hours are the first 20 hours of your work requirement. Paid employment and supervised volunteer work always count as core activities.
Academic classroom hours may also count as core hours for up to 12 months through the Vocational Education option (VET).
Single-Parent Households
What are the work requirements for a single-parent household?
Households with children under 6 years old are generally required to complete 20 core hours.
Households with children age 6 or older are generally required to complete 30 total hours, made up of 20 core hours plus 10 non-core hours.
Example 1: Using Vocational Education Training (VET)
A student using VET may count:
- 12 hours of class
- 12 hours of study
- 6 hours of BTH employment
This equals 30 total hours.
Example 2: Using Job Skills Training (JST)
A student using JST may count:
- 20 hours of BTH employment as core hours
- 12 classroom hours
This equals 32 total hours.
Single-parent households need 22 hours per week to maximize childcare reimbursement. Childcare does not count study hours, only work, volunteer, or class time.
| Single Parent Household, |
HOURS 1-20 = CORE Includes these activities: |
HOURS 21-30 = Non-CORE Includes these activities: |
|---|---|---|
|
Vocational Education (VET) 12 month limit NOTE: 12 months can occur at any time. Client may use 12 months immediately to facilitate transition to school, or wait until advanced coursework. |
Classroom Hours (Req. Signature) Unsupervised Study Hall = 1 hour per class hour (does not count for childcare!) Paid Employment (BTH) |
Paid Employment (BTH) Supervised Study Hall (Req. Signature) (does not count for childcare!) |
|
Job Skills Training (JST) Months 13 鈥 60 |
Paid Employment (BTH) Volunteer Hours |
Classroom Hours/Credits (Req. Signature) Supervised Study Hall (Req. Signature) |
Two-Parent Households: 1 Adult is Work Required
What are the work requirements when only 1 adult is work required?
In a two-parent household where only one adult has work requirements, the household must complete 35 total hours, including 30 core hours.
One adult may use education or class and study hours for core activities, including 12 months under VET. Class hours and study may also be used under JST.
Two-parent households must meet the total required hours between the two adults.
Example 1: Using VET
Using VET, 12 hours of class + 12 hours of study + 11 hours of BTH employment = 35 core hours.
Example 2: Using JST
Using JST, 20 hours of BTH employment + 10 hours of volunteer work = 30 core hours, plus 5 class hours = 35 total hours.
1 parent with work requirements = 35 hours, including 30 core hours.
|
2-Parent Household, Only 1 parent 鈥渨ork-required鈥 |
HOURS 1-30 = CORE Includes these activities: |
HOURS 31-35 Non-CORE Hours 31-55 Childcare includes these activities: |
|---|---|---|
|
Vocational Education (VET) 12 month limit for 1 parent |
Classroom Hours (Req. Signature) Unsupervised Study Hall (does not need signature) Paid Employment (BTH) |
Paid Employment (BTH) Supervised Study Hall (Req. Signature) |
|
Job Skills Training (JST) Months 13 – 60 |
Paid Employment (BTH) Volunteer Hours |
Classroom Hours/Credits (Req. Signature) Supervised Study Hall (Req. Signature) |
Two-Parent Households: Both Adults Work Required
What are the work requirements when both adults are work required?
In a two-parent household where both adults have work requirements, the household must complete 55 total hours, including 50 core hours.
One adult may use education or class and study hours for core activities, including 12 months under VET. Class hours and study may also be used for JST.
Two-parent households must meet the total required hours between the two adults.
How are hours counted in a two-parent household using childcare?
Two-parent households using childcare must meet 55 total hours, including 50 core hours.
Counting hours depends on the number of hours worked by the 鈥渘on-student鈥 adult, which contributes to the 50 core hours.
Important childcare note for two-parent households
Childcare subsidies for two-parent households only count hours during which both parents are at work or attending classes.
This can significantly reduce the childcare subsidy. Contact Bridge to Hope if you have questions about this option.
2 parents with work requirements = 55 hours, including 50 core hours.
2-parent households using childcare must meet 55 hours total, including 50 core hours.
|
2-Parent household, Utilizing Childcare Both parents 鈥渨ork required鈥 |
HOURS 1-50 = CORE Includes these activities: |
HOURS 51-55 Non-CORE Includes these activities: |
|---|---|---|
|
Vocational Education (VET) 12 month limit for 1 parent |
Classroom Hours Unsupervised Study Hall (doesn鈥檛 need monitor/signature) Paid employment (BTH) |
Paid Employment (BTH) Supervised Study Hall |
|
Job Skills Training (JST) Months 13 – 60 |
Paid Employment (BTH) Volunteer Hours |
Classroom Hours/Credits Supervised Study Hall |
Need Help?
Contact your FTW case manager or Bridge to Hope campus contact before making decisions about work hours or education activities.
Disclaimer
This page is intended to provide general information. Final work-hour, childcare reimbursement, education activity, and policy determinations are made by the appropriate FTW and DHS offices. Stay in communication with your case manager and BTH campus contact.
Follow Bridge to Hope
Stay connected with Bridge to Hope updates, student stories, and program information.
Derek Galanto
2600 Campus Road | Honolulu, HI 96822 | QLCSS 211
(808) 956-9313 | bth@hawaii.edu
Last Modified: June 2026