Can i get paid to care for a family member

When the care plan is set, the care recipient, or a surrogate if needed, chooses a caregiver. Similar to self-directed care under Medicaid, this Department of Veterans Affairs VA program allows qualified former service members to manage their own long-term services and supports.

It is available in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for veterans of all ages who are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration health care system and need the level of care a nursing facility provides but want to live at home or the home of a loved one. A flexible monthly budget, based on a VA assessment of the veteran's needs, enables participants to choose the goods and services they find most useful, including a caregiver to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, cooking, feeding, dressing, using the bathroom and adjusting prosthetic devices.

The veteran chooses the caregiver and may pick any physically and mentally capable family member including a child, grandchild, sibling or spouse. VA medical centers determine eligibility and make referrals. Find and contact your nearest center for more information on the program. This program supplements a military pension to help cover the cost of a caregiver, who may be a family member.

The vet:. Explain why a caregiver is needed, ideally including an attending doctor's report. Be specific about the disease or injury that caused physical or mental impairment, and explain on the form your typical day, noting how well you get around, any loss of coordination or any inability to manage basic daily needs without assistance. You can mail the form to the pension management center that serves your state or file in person at your regional VA benefits office.

Veterans who receive a military pension and are substantially confined to their immediate premises because of permanent disability can apply for a monthly pension supplement. This program provides a monthly stipend to family members who serve as caregivers for veterans who need assistance with everyday activities because of a serious injury or illness sustained in the line of duty on or before May 7, , or on or after Sept.

Benefits will be extended in October to veterans who suffered a service-related disability between those dates. The veteran must be enrolled in VA health services, have a disability rating individual or combined of 70 percent or higher, and need either personal care related to everyday activities or supervision or protection because of their condition. The caregiver must be 18 or older and a child, parent, spouse, stepfamily member, extended family member or full-time housemate of the veteran.

The stipends are based on federal pay rates for the region where an eligible veteran lives. The caregiver receives For more information on help for military caregivers, visit the VA Caregiver Support page or call its hotline at If the person needing assistance is mentally sound and has sufficient financial resources , that person can choose to compensate a family member for the same services a professional home health care worker would provide.

If you and your loved one are exploring this route, try these steps to establish a proactive employer-employee approach, which can minimize stress and family tension. Talk about wages and paydays, health risks, scheduling, and how respite care and caregiver sick days will be handled.

It should spell out wages, what services will be provided and when, and the length of the agreement, among other terms. Consider involving other members of the immediate family in working out terms so they are not surprised later.

All other interested parties, such as siblings, need to approve it. If family members seem uncomfortable with the arrangement or disagree with the plan, consider a session with a neutral party, such as a family therapist or family mediator who specializes in elder care.

Specify services performed, dates of work and the amount paid. This paperwork is essential if your family member later applies for Medicaid. During the qualification process, a caseworker will examine records for the past five years. As with any paid job, caregivers are legally required to report wages as taxable income.

If at a later date your family member becomes eligible for Medicaid but your taxes have not been paid, Medicaid will consider the money a gift — not an expense. This could prevent your loved one from qualifying for Medicaid.

Many adult children wonder if they can be compensated for the countless hours that they spend caregiving for their aging parents. The short answer to this question is yes, it is possible. Unfortunately, the short answer is insufficient, as the subject is complex. Many variables impact whether a loved one who requires care is eligible for such assistance, and what many people fail to ask, is if they, themselves as caregivers, are eligible. The article that follows comprehensively explores the many different options and programs that can be used to pay family members as caregivers.

An alternative approach is to use our Paid Caregiver Program Locator. Of all the programs that pay family members as caregivers, Medicaid is the most common source of payment. Medicaid has eligibility requirements that apply to the program participant and it has rules that dictate who is allowed to provide them with care. The bad news is that not all four are available in every state, but the good news is at least one of the four is available in every state.

The first and most common Medicaid option is Medicaid Waivers. Waivers allow states to pay for care and support services for individuals residing outside of nursing homes. Commonly, they pay for personal care assistance with activities of daily living , such as eating, dressing, and mobility and chore services provided for elderly or disabled persons who live in their homes or the homes of family members. With this option, the care recipient can choose to receive care from a family member, such as an adult child, and Medicaid will compensate the adult child for providing care for the elderly parent.

However, the concept of consumer direction is available in all states. A variety of other terms or phrases are employed to describe this same concept. Waivers are offered as an alternative to nursing home care. Waiver names, eligibility requirements, and benefits are different in each state. While nursing home Medicaid is an entitlement, Waivers are not entitlements. They are enrollment capped, meaning there is a select number of people who can be enrolled in the program, and waiting lists are fairly common.

A complete list of Waivers that allow family members to be paid as caregivers is available here. Unlike Waivers, regular Medicaid is an entitlement program; if an applicant meets the eligibility requirements, then they can receive benefits.

Waiting lists do not exist. Please note that some states elect to offer personal care services in the home and community through their state plan via an option called Community First Choice CFC. Similar to how Waivers offer consumer direction of services, State Plan Personal Care often allows the beneficiary to choose their care provider. Family members, including adult children can be chosen to provide care for their mothers and fathers.

Again, like Waivers, the adult children caregivers are paid the Medicaid approved hourly rate for their efforts. During the initial enrollment process, the elderly individual is assessed, and it is determined how many hours per week they require care services. A list of state Medicaid programs that offer the choice of provider in their personal care benefit is available here. This option does not directly pay the adult child for their caregiving efforts on an hourly basis, but instead compensates them indirectly.

To better understand this option, some background information on Medicaid eligibility is required. Eligibility for elderly persons is based largely on their income and their assets. However, if one moves from their home into a nursing home, for example , then their home is no longer considered an exempt asset unless their spouse lives there or the Medicaid recipient expresses an intent to return home.

This is known as Medicaid Estate Recovery. There are additional requirements. The adult child must live in the home with their parent and provide care for at least two years. The level of care they provide must prevent their parent from being placed in a nursing home and they must have the medical documentation to validate this fact.

The Caregiver Exemption is complicated. Therefore, it is strongly advised that families plan in advance for this option to avoid both Medicaid and family conflicts. One can read more about the Caregiver Exemption here or connect with a Medicaid planning expert to discuss if, and how this option, would work for your family. Under the consumer-directed care model, some family members and friends can be compensated for providing caregiving services.

The State of Hawaii Department of Health , Executive Office of Aging administers the Family Caregiver Support Program , which provides caregiver support services to caregivers of eligible care recipients, with the goal of enabling recipients to remain in their home environment. Four non-Medicaid-funded assistance programs are available.

Payments are made directly to the service provider. In order to qualify, a primary caregiver must be employed at least 30 hours per week. The Kupuna Care Program is a state of Hawaii-funded program for older adults who do not qualify for other government programs, nor have the help of private assistance.

The program offers community-based long-term care services and financial support to cover necessary services such as respite care, home-delivered meals, and personal care assistance. Service providers are paid directly, so caregivers cannot receive any compensation under this program.

Participants are able to choose their own care providers, including certain family members, friends, and neighbors, who may be compensated. The Hawaii Community Living Program CLP is a self-directed program, allowing recipients to determine the mix of services and supports that best meet their needs and hire and manage their own service providers. Reach out to the ADRC for more information. These services may include adult day health services, personal care, case management, respite care, and more.

This program gives participants greater choice and control over the Medicaid funds for the services and supports they receive to ensure they fit their needs. Participants can hire and manage their own workers, and even hire people they know. Illinois has two managed care health plans relevant to those caring for an older adult or an individual with a disability. Illinois HealthChoice is a managed care program that provides numerous long-term care services.

However, older adults may be eligible for the Community Care Program , a Medicaid-funded waiver program managed by the Illinois Department on Aging. These services were formerly offered under the My Choices Program, which was terminated in Under the Community Care Program, a variety of supports, services, and technologies are provided to eligible participants who are at risk of being placed in a Medicaid-funded nursing home in order to enable them to remain in their own homes.

Services offered under the Community Care Program include adult day services, homemaker services, medication management, transportation, and more. The former My Choices Program offered more flexibility in choosing a care provider, and the Community Care Program is a bit more restrictive. Under the Consumer-Directed Attendant Care Service, participants may hire and manage their own care providers, including friends and certain family members but not spouses , at an hourly rate determined by the state of Indiana.

As this is a Medicaid-funded program, participants must be eligible for Medicaid in order to take advantage of these services. Family members, including spouses in some cases, can become paid caregivers under this program.

Benefits include up to 15 days of non-skilled respite care services per year and regular supportive visits from a case manager and registered nurse. Care recipients may receive other services simultaneously through the Aged and Disabled Waiver, such as adult day care and transportation services. The Iowa Medicaid HCBS Older adult Waiver is a Medicaid-funded program that offers a Consumer Choices Option CCO , which gives participants the opportunity to be responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, managing, supervising, and firing workers and service providers.

CDAC service providers may be a family member, friend, or neighbor, but not the participant's spouse. The participant and the CDAC service provider must come to an agreement about the wage the provider will be paid. Personal care and other forms of non-medical in-home supportive services are provided, although individual services offered are determined at the county level. Some services that are non-medical in nature may be consumer-directed, including personal care and homemaker services.

Spouses are typically ineligible to be hired as caregivers, although some exceptions apply, and other family members may be hired and paid for caregiving services in some cases. Some services provided through this program may be consumer-directed, although in most cases, spouses and legal representatives cannot be hired to provide caregiving services. There are some exceptions in rare circumstances, however. Kansas does not currently offer a Veteran Directed Care program.

The Hart-Supported Living Program offers grants to eligible older adults to help them remain in their own homes or the home of a loved one. This program is entirely self-directed, meaning that recipients are responsible for determining the services and supports they need as well as the provider of those services. Spouses and other family members may be paid for caregiving services through the Hart-Supported Living Program, which is a state-funded program designed for Kentucky residents with disabilities, regardless of age.

PCAP is also a state-funded program for Kentucky residents who are 18 years of age or older and have a functional loss of two or more limbs. Friends, neighbors, and certain family members may be hired under this program as employees. Those hired under this program are paid via a financial management agency.

It is possible to hire spouses or adult children to serve as caregivers under this program. Louisiana does not offer a non-Medicaid-funded support program for caregivers. The Medicaid-funded option, the Louisiana Community Choices Waiver , is a program for older adult or disabled Louisiana residents. MIHC, provided by Caregiver Homes of Louisiana , enables a family member or friend who lives in the same house as the care recipient to receive payment for providing caregiving services.

Along with a tax-free daily stipend, the program includes support services and coaching from a professional care team. Services include nursing services and personal care assistance in addition to funding for assistive technology i. These services are typically limited to essential services required to avoid placement in a residential care facility. The CDAS Program allows consumers to choose and hire their own care providers who may be paid for their caregiving services.

This may include adult children who are not also the legal representative of the care recipient. The program includes a Participant-Directed Option under which consumers can hire their preferred care provider, including adult children, other family members, and friends in some circumstances.

Spouses are not eligible to receive compensation for providing caregiving services through the program. Participants are required to use a third-party financial management company to facilitate payroll and taxes. The Maryland Attendant Care Program ACP is a non-Medicaid-funded program offering assistance in the form of financial reimbursement for attendant care services provided to adult residents with severe physical disabilities age 64 and younger.

Administered by the Maryland Department of Disabilities , this is a consumer-directed program in which qualified family members over age 18 are eligible to receive compensation for providing care. Spouses, however, are not eligible. A self-directed option is available, although spouses may not be hired to provide caregiving services under this program. Maryland Medicaid's Community First Choice CFC program is for older adult and disabled Maryland residents who would otherwise require institutional care.

The specific level of assistance provided is based on individual needs but typically includes assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living such as meal preparation. The program emphasizes self-directed care and with a few exceptions, family members may be hired to provide caregiving services. Administered on a county-by-county basis, the Community Personal Assistance Services program requires caregivers to be approved, certified in first aid and CPR, and supervised by a nurse monitor.

ECOP is designed for older adults with greater care needs. Benefits may include home delivered meals, adult day care services, medication assistance, chore services, and more. Both programs are managed by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Massachusetts Medicaid, known as MassHealth , administers the Medicaid-funded option, the Personal Care Attendant PCA program , which provides services for older adult and disabled Massachusetts residents. Consumers are provided with funds for self-directed care, and friends, neighbors, and certain family members including adult children and former spouses may be hired and paid as care providers. Current spouses and legal guardians, however, are not eligible to receive compensation for providing services.

Adult Foster Care is another Medicaid-funded option available in Massachusetts, through which the state pays caregivers including family members for providing hour care. The Enhanced Adult Foster Care program available through Caregiver Homes of Massachusetts provides caregivers with support services from a professional care team along with a daily tax-free stipend. Family members including adult children may be hired, although spouses and legal guardians are ineligible to receive payment for providing caregiving services in most cases.

Parents caring for a minor child and spouses are not eligible to be paid for their services, although other family members, friends, and neighbors may be hired as caregivers. Participants may choose their own caregivers, who are referred to as Home Help Providers.

Home Help Providers can receive compensation for their care services, but the program is only available in 25 counties throughout the state.

Family members, including adult children, may be hired to provide caregiving services. While spouses may also be hired under this program, the services provided by a spouse are limited to personal assistance services.

Any family member participating in the program must be registered with the state as a care provider, and participants are required to use a third-party financial management company as an intermediary to facilitate payments. The AC program can also assist with home modifications such as wheelchair ramps.

The program also offers a few services not covered by the Older adult Waiver discussed further below , including conversion case management for transition from a nursing home, discretionary services, nutrition services, and a relative hardship waiver. The Minnesota Consumer Support Grant CSG Program is another state-funded program which provides a monthly cash grant to eligible recipients in place of in-home services. The funds may be used for care support as well as services such as home modifications, transportation assistance, and meal delivery services.

Based on the self-directed services model for Medicaid service delivery, this flexible grant program allows recipients to choose a mix of services and supports that best meet their needs. Under the CSG program, recipients can hire family members as paid caregivers, including spouses, adult children, and other relatives, in addition to employees of traditional home health care agencies. The CSG program is not available statewide at the time of this writing.

More information about this grant can be found in this fact sheet. There are financial eligibility requirements, although eligible participants are financially outside the Minnesota Medicaid limits. Eligibility for the ECS program must be reevaluated each year.

Those who are Medicaid eligible have several program options administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Examples of relevant programs include: The Medicaid Elderly Waiver EW Program is a waiver program that funds both home and community-based services for people age 65 and older who wish to live in the community but require the level of care provided in a nursing home.

It includes a self-directed option, under the Consumer Directed Community Supports CDCS service option, that allows participants the flexibility to choose their own care providers. The Minnesota Personal Care Assistance Program PCA is also a self-directed program, allowing family members and adult children to receive compensation for caregiving services.

Spouses and parents of minor children may also be able to receive compensation for caregiving services, provided that they meet eligibility criteria. More information can be found in this fact sheet. Minnesota does not currently offer a VDC program. The Office of Long Term Care is responsible for ensuring that providers of these home and community based waiver services meet enrollment requirements.

Participants may select their own PCA, as long as the PCA meets basic competencies, including educational and functional requirements. More information about this waiver can be found in the Independent Living Waiver brochure. Unfortunately, neither of these waivers allow for consumer directed care. Missouri does not offer a state-funded program to support older adults and people with disabilities outside of the Medicaid-funded programs.

Through the Personal Care Assistance services program , services may be consumer-directed. Family members other than spouses and legal guardians may be hired and compensated for providing care services. Personal care assistance is also self-directed through the I ndependent L iving Waiver program. Spouses and legal guardians are ineligible to receive compensation for providing care, although other family members may be hired.

Payments and other financial matters are handled through Financial Management Services. Neither of these waiver programs offer consumer directed care options. The Missouri Medicaid Care Options program offers assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing, companion care services to relieve family caregivers, assistance with tasks such as housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation, nursing care, and adult day care services.

This program does not allow participant direction of services. Missouri offers a VDC program, which is available through the St. Consumer-directed care is an option under this program, and certain family members provided they are qualified to provide care may be hired as care providers — subject to approval by the state of Montana.

Spouses are typically excluded, but may be hired under certain circumstances. Adult children may be hired as caregivers, with services limited to personal care or homemaker services. Spouses, parents, and legal guardians are ineligible to be hired, while adult children of aging parents and ex-spouses are eligible to receive compensation for providing services.

The recipient is responsible for approving timesheets, and timesheets are reviewed and payments issued to caregivers by the state. The program is a self-directed model, allowing participants to select their own care providers, including relatives. A legal contract between the care provider and recipient is required, and providers must meet state regulations.

The SSAD program provides services ranging from housekeeping and meal delivery to food preparation, adult day care services, and limited personal care services. There is no consumer-directed option under the SSAD program.

The AABD program offers a cash stipend and medical coverage to eligible Nebraska residents who are blind or disabled based on Social Security rules but are not eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income SSI due to a disability that is expected to last less than 12 months.

While respite care services may be provided in the home or in a location such as an adult day care center or older adult center, respite care providers must be chosen from an approved provider list.

The PAS program includes a self-directed option, allowing recipients to choose their care provider as well as the types of services provided. Family members, other than spouses and those who are legally responsible for the care recipient, may be hired to provide services. Administered by Nevada's Aging and Disability Services Division and funded by the state, COPE provides non-medical services such as adult day care, personal care, and homemaker services, and some services are self-directed.

Care providers, which may include certain family members, must be approved by the state, and the hourly rate is regulated. Under the HCBW-PD program, participant direction is permitted for some services such as attendant care, respite care, and homemaker services, and friends and family members other than spouses or legal guardians may be hired to provide care.

Siblings and adult children may be hired as caregivers, provided they are not the legal representative of the care recipient. Spouses and anyone legally responsible for the recipient are not eligible to receive compensation for providing services. Formerly known as the Older adult and Chronically Ill Waiver, the Choices for Independence Waiver provides services for those who are clinically eligible for nursing home placement but prefer to remain in their own homes in the community.

There is some level of consumer direction offered under this program, which applies mostly to non-skilled and custodial care services. Family members, however, are not able to be hired to provide services under this program. New Hampshire also offers a Social Services Block Grant SSBG , funded under Title XX of the Social Security Act, which provides home and community-based services for older adults age 60 and older as well as residents between the ages of 18 and 60 who have a chronic illness or disability.

It does not appear as though the SSBG includes a self-directed option, but services include adult in-home care, adult medical day services, home delivered meals, homemaker services, and more. Recipients may self-direct their care by interviewing, selecting, training, managing, supervising, and dismissing their Personal Care Attendant PCA. There are a variety of options for getting assistance with personal care services in New Jersey. Spouses and adult children are also eligible to receive compensation for providing these services in New Jersey, and minor home modifications that support independence, such as wheelchair ramps, may also be offered under this program.

Caregivers utilizing this program are able to select the agency or individual of their choosing to provide respite care services. Participants may choose their own care providers, including friends and family members who are 18 years of age or older. There is no state-funded, non-Medicaid program offering support for family caregivers in New Mexico, although older adults and their caregivers may receive some services offered through local Area Agencies on Aging via the Older Americans Act, such as adult day care services, in-home respite care services, transportation assistance, and homemaker services.

This program focuses on enabling older adults to remain living in their own homes in the community. Services include adult day care, respite care, and personal care services such as assistance with ADLs. Family members and friends may be hired for non-skilled services including personal care services , although the managed care organization MCO makes determinations on whether the selected provider is qualified. EISEP is designed for adults age 60 and older who live at home and require assistance with activities of daily living.

Participants work with a county caseworker and a medical professional to determine their required level of care and create a personalized care plan, which includes the number of hours of assistance they require each week. Participants are then able to hire their own caregivers to provide services up to the specified number of hours each week. Spouses and legal guardians are ineligible to be paid caregivers; however, ex-spouses, adult children, and siblings may receive compensation for providing services.

A third-party financial management agency oversees payment processing and timesheet approvals. The Paid Family Leave for Family Care provision allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave each year to care for an older adult relative who has a serious illness. The 12 weeks can be taken all at one time or in smaller portions throughout the year. A number of other options for assistance are available in the state of New York.

Local New York Area Agencies on Aging can direct older adults and their caregivers to the available programs and services in their area for which they might qualify and, in some cases, assist with the application process.

Services are provided to older adults and caregivers to enable participants to avoid nursing home placement. Personal care and chore services are among the broad range of services offered, and these services may be provided by relatives, including adult children and spouses, if the participant chooses. Care providers must be at least 18 years of age, and they must have given up other employment in order to provide care for their loved one. A health care professional and a case manager will screen applicants to determine eligibility and define the services to be provided.

The program also covers minor home modifications to support independence in addition to personal care and other services. This program offers consumer directed services, which allows the participant to freely choose who will provide care to meet medical and functional needs.

They can hire an employee personal assistant of their choice and independently set their pay rate. Coordinated Caregiving from Seniorlink is another option for live-in family caregivers under this waiver.

In addition to a tax-free stipend, the service includes ongoing support from a professional care coach. The funds provided can be used for rent, food, daily necessities, and clothing. The amount of the stipend will vary from participant to participant. This is not a consumer-directed program. Case managers work with recipients to determine the amount of the payment and how the funds will be used. Other programs are offered by the state of North Carolina, such as Project C.

Dementia information and training for caregivers is also provided. This program includes two levels of services with different eligibility requirements, with SPED serving those who are more functionally impaired. Both programs offer services to enable older adults and people with disabilities to remain in their own homes, including adult foster care.

Both programs allow for self-direction via the Family Home Care service option. Services may be provided in several settings, including their own home, the home of a loved one, or in adult foster care or assisted living communities. Services are not provided to residents in nursing homes, hospitals, or intermediate care communities. It is consumer-directed, and care providers, who are called Qualified Service Providers, may include a family member, neighbor, or friend who has met the standards set by the North Dakota Department of Human Services DHS.

Payment is at a Medicaid-approved hourly rate. The program allows for consumer direction of some services, and family members may be hired in some cases to provide caregiving services if they work for the provider organization and are qualified to provide the necessary services.

If the worker is hired via a Personal Care Service, they will be paid a state-contracted hourly pay rate. The Individual Options Waiver is the most comprehensive of the three waivers Ohio offers. For caregivers who are legal guardians of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Shared Living formerly Adult Foster Care or Adult Family Living from Caregiver Homes of Ohio may be an option. The program provides a tax-free stipend for caregiving expenses along with support and coaching from a professional care team.

Other services and support programs are available through the Ohio Department of Aging. An example of one service that may prove useful is the Golden Buckeye program. Under this program, businesses provide participants with special savings, such as discounts, waived fees, free products or services, and more.

Oklahoma does not offer an in-home support program for family caregivers and older adults who are not Medicaid-eligible. Care is self-directed, and participants may opt to hire friends, neighbors, and some non-immediate family members to provide caregiving services.

Spouses and legal guardians are not eligible to be compensated for providing services. In some cases, spouses and legal guardians may be hired to provide services. Oregon Project Independence OPI is the only state-funded non-Medicaid program that offers older adults long-term care.

This program provides in-home supervision and assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing. The OPI program is consumer-directed, allowing recipients to choose their own care providers, including certain family members but excluding spouses. However, family members must be qualified to provide caregiving services and have a provider number. The Client-Employed Provider Program CEP is a self-directed program allowing participants to hire friends, neighbors, and family members of their choosing to provide services.

This includes adult children and spouses. Recipients do not receive cash to compensate their caregivers; they authorize the state to make payments on their behalf under this program.