Why You Might Not Be Getting Paid as a Family Caregiver

Have you ever wondered why you can’t get paid to be a family caregiver for your loved one? Have you tried to get paid through Medicaid before, but were denied? Or maybe you were getting paid before, but have been told that you can no longer get paid?

Even though you would care for your loved one no matter what, getting paid for your hard work can be helpful, especially if caregiving makes it hard for you to earn income by working. Some Medicaid programs let family caregivers get paid, but these opportunities may change over time as states make changes to their Medicaid programs.

There are many reasons you may not be able to get paid as a family caregiver right now.

• Your care recipient might not be eligible for Medicaid.
• Some programs that paid family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic have ended and are no longer available.
• Many Medicaid programs have long waitlists.
• Some Medicaid programs don’t allow you to be paid to care for your spouse. 

Let’s explore why you might not be able to get paid as a family caregiver through Medicaid, and what this means for your family now and in the future.

Medicaid Eligibility

If you can’t get paid as a family caregiver, it might be because your loved one doesn’t meet your state’s Medicaid requirements. For example, if your loved one is not enrolled in Medicaid services at all, then they can’t hire a family member as a paid caregiver through Medicaid. Each state has its own Medicaid rules, but usually, people must show that they can’t afford healthcare on their own to get Medicaid benefits.

Once your loved one is enrolled in Medicaid and is eligible to have Medicaid pay a family caregiver, you might not qualify to be their paid family caregiver. For example, some states’ Medicaid programs don’t allow for spouses to be paid family caregivers through Medicaid, while other states don’t allow non-relatives to get paid. If you are your loved one’s legal guardian, you might not be allowed to get paid for caring for them if you are serving as their guardian at the same time. Many states require background checks before a family caregiver can be paid.

Because the rules are different in every state, it’s possible that the reason you can’t get paid as a family caregiver through Medicaid is because either you or your loved one don’t qualify.

End of Pandemic Policies

One reason you may not be able to get paid for your work as a family caregiver now has to do with programs that were started or expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some states have made their pandemic-era paid family caregiver programs permanent. Other states have ended these programs over the last couple of years. In other words, you might not be getting paid as a family caregiver because the program that allowed you to get paid has ended.

Long Waitlists

Most paid family caregivers get paid through Medicaid waivers. Often, there might be more people applying to receive Home and Community-Based Services than the state can support. If this happens, you and your loved one might be placed on a waitlist.

While you wait, you probably can’t get paid to care for your loved one, and your loved one probably can’t receive Medicaid HCBS yet. Once you reach the top of the list, you might be able to get paid as a family caregiver if you and your loved one continue to meet all the requirements.

Moving Forward

You might not be able to get paid as a family caregiver right now, but you don’t need to lose hope for the future. Your state’s rules or your family’s situation might change, meaning you might become eligible.

Keep an eye out for changes in your state’s Medicaid program so that you can act quickly if you think you and your loved one might have become eligible. Even if you can’t get paid now, know that your work as a family caregiver is valuable. You are helping your loved one get the care they need and deserve.