In this guide 5 sections
Caring for your mom may be taking time away from paid work. Some Medicaid home care programs allow an adult child or another eligible family member to be paid for approved care. Your mom must qualify for the program, and you must meet its caregiver rules.
Start with her state Medicaid program
- 1.Call your mom’s state Medicaid office or Medicaid managed care plan. Ask for the office that handles home and community based services.
- 2.Ask whether the state offers self directed personal care, consumer directed care or structured family caregiving. Ask specifically whether an adult child can be paid.
- 3.Request the required home care assessment. Ask what forms document the help your mom needs and whether she must join a Medicaid waiver.
- 4.Ask for the caregiver rules in writing. Confirm approved hours, pay rate, training, timekeeping, payroll and whether living with your mom affects eligibility.
Your mom must be approved for care first
Payment is tied to services that the program authorizes for your mom. For example, California requires Medi-Cal eligibility, a health care certification and a county assessment before approving services and monthly hours. New York requires Medicaid eligibility and an assessment showing a need for home care services.
Family caregiver rules differ by program
New York’s consumer directed program can allow a family member to serve as the paid personal assistant, but it excludes the Medicaid member’s spouse, designated representative and the parent of a consumer younger than 21. Other Medicaid structured family caregiving programs may include spouses and other legally responsible relatives. Ask the state program to confirm its current relationship rules.
Ask how pay and paperwork work
Payment is not a flat national amount. California says hourly rates vary by county. New York uses a statewide fiscal intermediary to process wages, benefits, tax withholding and employment records. The local program can explain the rate and payroll process that apply to you.
Check VA benefits if your mom is a qualifying veteran or survivor
VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits add monthly payments to a qualifying VA pension. Aid and Attendance may apply when a person needs help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding or dressing. This is an added pension payment, not a caregiver wage established by the VA page.
Questions families ask
Can any adult child get paid?
No payment is automatic. Your mom must qualify for an available program, and you must meet that program’s caregiver rules.
Can a spouse be paid?
It depends on the program. New York CDPAP excludes spouses. Some structured family caregiving programs described by NASHP include spouses and other legally responsible relatives.
How much would I be paid?
Ask the program for its current rate and approved hours. California says its IHSS hourly rates vary by county.
Is VA Aid and Attendance caregiver pay?
The VA describes it as an additional monthly pension payment for qualifying veterans and survivors. The VA page does not establish a direct wage for a family caregiver.
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