Get Paid as a Caregiver

There are many benefits to having yourself, family or friends be able to provide daily care for your minor child. Relationships and comfort are already built. If you are unable to work due to your child’s needs, it is convenient to be able to be compensated for the time that you are unable to leave your child for work. There is comfort in knowing that your child is safe with someone you know you can trust.

Fortunately, there are some state governments that do offer programs to pay family or friends of people with disabilities to help with daily activities including personal care, giving medicine, cooking, cleaning, and more.

Many states call this a consumer-directed personal assistance program. Each state has different requirements and rules.

Currently, twelve states (Colorado, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin) allow these state-funded programs to pay any relatives, including spouses, parents of minor children, and other legally responsible relatives. Other states do appear to offer programs but under extreme circumstances.

It is not as common to be compensated for caring for your minor child, as it is for an adult child who is disabled, especially very young children. Do not get discouraged, if your state is not on this list. Reach out and find out if your state has any programs that they offer parents who care for their minor children.

There are only a few states that we have found that seem to not offer any type of compensation for being your child’s caregiver. (Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island)

If you have a case worker, family advocate, school district ambassador, or currently receive Medicaid you can reach out and find out if they have information to apply for services and payment. They may be able to guide you through the process of applying and getting approved. There are usually required certifications to become a home health caregiver for your child, however, that is a per-state circumstance.

If you do not have access to a direct person there are a few websites that can lead you in the right direction. You can check out your state benefit website, where you would apply for Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, etc.

You can also visit the following websites to see what options your state has available to you and your family.

Https://www.americanadvocacygroup.com/how-to-become-a-paid-caregiver-for-your-child-with-special-needs/

https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiverhttps://

www.theseniorlist.com/caregiving/caregiver-funding-by-state/

https://www.caregiver.org/connecting-caregivers/services-by-state/