Can You Get Paid to Take Care of Your Mom?

Among the many words used to describe family caregivers — invisible, overwhelmed, heroic, to name just a few — one is often just assumed. That word is “unpaid.” Although family caregivers are often praised as a critical part of the elder care workforce, most don’t get a paycheck. 

Yet many caregivers need financial help. In addition to emotional and physical stress, caregiving often brings money worries. Paying for medical supplies and drugs not fully covered by insurance, transportation, home adaptations, home care or any of the myriad other expenses may wreak havoc on a budget. It’s no wonder many family caregivers ask, “Can I get paid for taking care of my mother?”

The short answer? It depends. 

A longer answer would spell out the differences that determine eligibility: which state you live in, the age or condition of the person you are caring for, your relationship to that person, his or her income and assets and more. It would also warn that not even the state and federal programs noted below will replace a full-time salary with benefits. 

But for some caregivers, the extra resources would go a long way. 

7 Options for Caregiver Pay

Here are seven options worth exploring:

1. A long-term care insurance policy

If your family member has long-term care insurance that provides for in-home care, the policy may allow a family member to be paid. Some policies exclude people who live in the same household. Ask an insurance agent to explain the policy’s benefits and conditions.

2. A private contract with a family member

If your family member has savings or other resources and wants to pay you, a private contract or personal care agreement may work out well for both of you. But this option can lead to family conflict and emotional and legal trouble. Make sure you consult an elder law attorney to draft a contract that spells out your wages and your responsibilities. Your wages should be consistent with prevailing local rates. Any impact on inheritances should be clear, too. Finally, all interested parties (siblings, other relatives) should understand and approve the arrangement. 

3. Consumer-directed Medicaid programs

Every state but South Dakota has Medicaid programs that allow an eligible older adult to hire, fire and train their home care aides. These programs are often informally called Cash and Counseling, but each state has its own formal name and eligibility requirements. Family members or friends can be hired; only 12 states allow spouses to be paid, however.

Once the request is approved, the state Medicaid agency creates an individualized budget based on needs and available resources. In California, for example, under Medi-Cal’s In-Home Supportive Services program, the value of the services cannot exceed $3,500 a month and generally averages around $2,200. The national average hourly wage for home-care service providers, including family, is around $11 an hour, although in some areas it may be as high as $15 to $17 an hour. 

There is a lot of paperwork involved, and many participants use a financial management Sservices agency to manage tax and other requirements. (Your state Medicaid agency should be able to provide you with a list.)

Some states have programs for individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid or who have specific conditions such as traumatic brain injury. To find out what your state offers, contact your state Medicaid agency. Since many states do not have the word “Medicaid” in their agency’s title, check with the state department of health or your local Area Agency on Aging, which you can access through Eldercare Locator, a service offered by a federal agency.

4. Paid family leave

The federal Family Medical Leave Act protects workers’ employment when they take time off for the birth or adoption of a baby or to care of a serious ill family member, but it is unpaid leave. California, New Jersey and Rhode Island, however, have programs that give employees the right to paid leave for these major life events; New York has a law that goes into effect in January 2018; theDistrict of Columbia’s law will be active in 2020. Washington state also passed a law but implementation has been delayed. 

Each state’s laws have different payment schedules and eligibility requirements.

5. Caregivers of veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a number of caregiver support programs. For primary caregivers of veterans injured in military conflicts after 9/11, a 2010 law provides monthly stipends, the amount determined by a combination of hours and wages that would be paid to a home care aide. Other benefits to caregivers include travel expenses, access to health care insurance, mental health services and 30 days of respite a year. Click here to continue reading.