What states pay you to take care of a family member?

The millions of people taking care of family members at home fulfill an essential and often undervalued caregiving role in today’s society. The estimated economic value of family caregivers’ unpaid contributions is nearly $600 billion. 

What’s more, many of these caregivers are a part of the “sandwich generation,” meaning that they are responsible for taking care of their kids at the same time as supporting their aging parents.

Often with the help of professional caregiving services and/or comprehensive, non-medical in-home companion care, the family members stepping up into the important roles of caring for their loved ones can get some much-needed assistance. 

With or without additional help, though, it is fortunate that multiple states incentivize this important work with paid assistance programs. In this blog, we’ll talk about a few of them.

What States Pay You to Take Care of a Family Member?

Thankfully, there is some available government assistance for family caregivers depending on the state that you live in. Here are the states that currently pay you to care for a family member, and how:

1. California: The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.
2. Illinois: The Community Care Program (CCP).
3. Michigan: The MI Choice Waiver.
4. Minnesota: The Consumer Support Grant (CSG) program.
5. New Jersey: The Personal Preference Program (PPP).
6. New York: The Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
7. Ohio: The PASSPORT program.
8. Oregon: The Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver.
9. Pennsylvania: The Aging Waiver program.
10. Washington: The Medicaid Alternative Care (MAC) program.

Additionally, if your loved one is a Medicaid recipient or is eligible for the program, they have some other options. The Community First Choice program, a Medicaid program established under the Affordable Care Act, provides personal attendant and state home services that can allow them to hire a family member as their caregiver. 

How Much Do Family Members Get Paid For Caregiving?

Compensation for family caregivers will be determined based on the option that you choose to pay for it with, such as Medicaid programs, veteran benefits, or state-funded initiatives. States with paid family caregiving incentives usually offer anywhere from $600 to over $1,000 a week for familial caregiving support. Generally, caregivers (often including family caregivers), typically make between $9–$22 per hour for their services.

Can a Family Member Get Paid to Be a Caregiver In Virginia?

While there are currently no non-Medicaid-specific programs in Virginia that compensate family members for caregiving, it is still possible to get paid for the family caregiving work that you do. There are a couple of types of Medicaid waivers that offer assistance for those in need of care: the Developmental Disability Waivers (DDW) and Long-Term Services and Supports Waivers (LTSS). The DDW waivers are the VA Building Independence Waiver, the VA Community Living (CL) Waiver, and the VA Family and Individual Support Waiver. The LTSS waiver option is known as the VA Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus Waiver.

Additionally, veterans in Virginia and elsewhere have multiple options for paying family caregivers, including the Veteran Directed Care (VDC) program, the Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension, the Housebound Pension, and the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).

How to Become A Paid Caregiver For a Family Member in Florida

To get compensated as a family caregiver, you’ll need to follow the specific requirements laid out by your state’s program. Here’s how to become a caregiver for a family member who gets paid for their services in the state of Florida (although these steps should generally work as a template for any of the states offering paid assistance to family caregivers).

1. Determine if your loved one is eligible for the caregiving assistance programs in Florida. 
2. Have the individual in need of care take an assessment to determine the level and kind of caregiving services they require.
3. Choose a caregiving program (e.g., the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, or SMMC, program).
4. Apply for Medicaid or a specific caregiving program.
5. Have your loved one select you as the family member designated to be their caregiver.
6. Complete the necessary onboarding and training.
7. Work with a healthcare professional to create a care plan for your loved one that meets their specific needs.
8. Begin caregiving, keeping careful records of the hours you spend on care.
9. Submit timesheet documentation to the program with details of the care provided.
10. Get compensated for your time!

How Senior Home Companions Can Help

Family caregivers do so much for their loved ones in need—but they can’t do it all. If you’re ready for some additional assistance with taking care of your loved one(s) and household, consider in-home companion care services. Senior Home Companions offers best-in-class helpers that aid in personal care, companionship, homemaking, transitional care, rehabilitation support, and more. Call us today if you’d like to learn more.