A lot of families are in the same boat. Mom or Dad needs help getting through the day—showering, cooking, or moving around safely—and someone in the family stepped up to make it happen. Maybe that's you. And maybe nobody ever told you that Pennsylvania will actually pay you for doing it.
Can a Family Member Get Paid to Care for a Loved One in Pennsylvania?
Yes, in many cases, a family member can be paid to provide home care in Pennsylvania through Medicaid. It's not a loophole or a workaround—it’s a real program, and a lot of families in Western PA qualify and just don't know it yet. Here's how it works.
The Program: Community HealthChoices (CHC)
The program that makes this possible is called Community HealthChoices (CHC). It's a Pennsylvania Medicaid waiver program run through the state's Department of Human Services and managed by three health plans: UPMC, PA Health & Wellness, and AmeriHealth Caritas.
The whole point of CHC is to help seniors and people with physical disabilities stay home instead of moving into a nursing facility. It pays for personal care, homemaker services, home health aide support, and allows the person receiving care to choose a family member as their paid caregiver.
Does My Loved One Qualify?
For a family caregiver to get paid, the person receiving care must qualify for CHC first. Here's what that requires:
- Age: 21 or older
- Insurance: Must have both Medicaid LTSS and Medicare
- Level of need: Their care needs must be significant enough that, without help, they'd be at risk of needing a nursing home
- Income and assets: Must fall within Medicaid's financial limits, which are reviewed each year
If they meet all four requirements, they can enroll in CHC and name a family member as their caregiver.
Who Can Be the Paid Caregiver?
Pennsylvania is fairly flexible about who can fill this role. Adult children, siblings, other relatives, and even close friends can qualify. However, there are some restrictions:
- Spouses are not eligible under CHC
- Individuals holding Power of Attorney (POA) are typically excluded
- Legal guardians generally do not qualify
Anyone who qualifies must pass a background check and complete basic training before starting.
What Does It Actually Pay?
Rates through CHC typically range from $12 to $15 per hour, depending on location and the health plan involved. Hours are determined based on the care recipient’s needs.
The caregiver is employed by a licensed home care agency, which handles payroll, taxes, and compliance. The agency is the official employer—not the family.
What Kind of Help Can a Family Caregiver Get Paid For?
Caregivers are paid for the same daily tasks performed by professional home care aides:
- Bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Meal preparation
- Medication reminders
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Mobility assistance
- Companionship and supervision
The difference is that your loved one gets to have someone they already know doing it, instead of a stranger showing up at the door. This helps them be comfortable with the help they are receiving.
How to Get the Process Started
Here's how enrollment typically works:
- Call the Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB). This is the state-contracted organization that handles CHC enrollment. Their number is 1-877-550-4227. Start here if you're not sure where your loved one stands.
- Get Medicaid set up if needed. If your loved one isn't on Medicaid yet, the IEB can walk you through that too.
Already on Medicaid? If your loved one already has both Medicaid and Medicare, you may be able to skip the first two steps and go straight to finding an agency. Nuchoice Home Care works with families all across Western Pennsylvania (Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Venango and Crawford Counties). We can help you figure out where things stand, get the paperwork sorted, and get your family caregiver set up and paid. Just give us a call.
- In-home assessment. The IEB sends someone out to evaluate your loved one's needs. That visit determines how many hours of care get approved.
- Pick a home care agency. Once approved, your loved one chooses a CHC-participating agency. The family caregiver is brought on as an employee of that agency.
- Get cleared and start. Background check, orientation, basic training, once that's done, care starts and paychecks follow.
What If CHC Isn't an Option?
CHC covers a lot of ground, but it's not the only program out there. Depending on the situation, there may be other options — the OBRA Waiver for adults between 18 and 59 with physical disabilities, ACT 150 waiver, PA OPTIONS for people who don't meet Medicaid's income cutoff, or VA caregiver programs for veterans. It's worth asking about all of them.
If you're not sure what fits, a local home care agency or the IEB can help sort it out.
Bottom Line
A lot of families are already doing this work for free. If your loved one has Medicaid and Medicare, is 21 or older, and needs regular help at home, there's a good chance you could be getting paid for what you're already doing.
It takes some paperwork to get there, but the process is manageable — and the IEB (1-877-550-4227) or a local home care agency can walk you through every step. You're already showing up for your family. Might as well get compensated for it.
If you have any further questions about this you can contact NuChoice Homecare at 724-981-5505 and they will be glad to help you!