Can I get paid to care for my mom?

Can I get paid to care for my mom?

Short answer: Often, yes. Many state Medicaid programs pay family caregivers through consumer-directed or structured family caregiving options, and a parent can pay a child privately under a written agreement.

Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.

There are several ways a family caregiver can be paid:

1. Through Medicaid. Many states let Medicaid waiver or state plan participants hire their own caregivers through consumer-directed (self-directed) programs, and family members, often including adult children, can be hired. Some states also have structured family caregiving or adult foster care programs that pay a caregiver who lives with the person. Rules on paying a spouse or legal guardian vary.

2. Through the VA. For veterans, VA programs such as the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers or Veteran Directed Care may pay family caregivers.

3. Privately. A parent can pay a child for care with their own money. To avoid the payments being treated as gifts for the look-back, use a written caregiver agreement, signed before care is provided, at a fair hourly rate, with a care log and regular payments. Payments are taxable income to the caregiver.

Each route has its own rules on hours, training and paperwork.

Getting help

Every situation is different, and small facts can change the answer. If this question affects a real decision, especially with a spouse at home, a home, gifts or a trust, a Certified Medicaid Planner can apply your state’s rules to your situation. As a rough guide, published fees for help with an application range from about $500 to $6,000, and hourly help from about $150 to $600.

Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.

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