Providing caregiver support to a family member is a tough job and oftentimes is done on an unpaid basis just to help the family. This has a way of putting an undue burden on people financially and have them looking for reimbursement options. Luckily, there are some state and federal government programs designed to offer financial assistance to family caregivers.
Oftentimes, someone acts as a caregiver for family member out of the goodness of their heart, however, there is no harm in also getting paid to be a caregiver. There are many programs designed to offer assistance and payment options to family caregivers and the amount of assistance typically varies by state, program, and eligibility.
The amount offered can be determined on a variety of factors including the local wage rates, as determined by zip code, with some programs having a cap on the maximum hourly rate allowed. Other factors to get paid to take care of a loved one can include the caregiver’s qualifications and experience, the level of care required for you relatives, time commitment required, and the market demand for caregivers in your area. Typically, for example in Pennsylvania, a family caregiver can expect to be paid around $10-$14 an hour.
Of course, they may be other ways to get caregiver benefits such as if your family member has long-term care insurance which may allow payment to be directed to a family member, some employers may offer paid caregiver leave, and other family members may see the benefit of you getting paid to be a caregiver and pay you directly.
The most common form of government program that allows for a caretaker for family members to be paid is the Medicaid waiver program that allows states to waive certain requirements to provide support for long-term care. For example, financial support in Pennsylvania is offered through Community Health Choices waiver.
If you are ready to apply to a family caregiver program to receive financial support, the best place to start is through your state or local aging agency which can easily be found online. They can give you assistance regarding eligibility requirements and point you to which programs you can apply for.
