If you're one of more than 70 million people who provide unpaid caregiving for a family member or friend -- either in that person's home or in your own -- you know that the time and energy burden can be enormous. In fact, you may have cut back or given up your paying job. Your smaller (or now nonexistent) paycheck may be pinching you hard. If so, it might be possible for you to get a small but regular payment for your caregiving work.
Here's how: If the parent, spouse, or other person you're caring for is eligible for Medicaid, its Cash and Counseling program, available in some states, can provide direct payments that could go to you. A few other states have similar programs for low-income seniors, even if the person receiving care doesn't quite qualify for Medicaid. Also, if the person you're caring for has long-term care insurance that includes in-home care coverage, in some cases those benefits can be used to pay you.
If the person you're caring for will be paying you from any source, it may be a good idea -- for both of you -- to draft a short written contract setting out the terms of your work and payment.
These situations are all to sad and yet so common. My questions is this, what does one do when they're not old enough for Medicare? I have been caring for my husband for 2 years since his health has declined due to heart disease. We are only in our late 50's and I've yet to find any help for people our age. My husband was forced into retirement as well and we live on half what he made when he worked. We also have our grand daughter living with us and going to school. We support her with everything other than her Pell Grant to go to school. Seems there's no help for many in our shoes. Also, I was helping to care for my brother who now has passed away from a massive stroke. He had no health insurance having had to quit his job 4 years before he died due to a smaller stroke. I talked him into signing up for Medicaid here in Utah. After only 3 weeks from burying my brother, I received a letter from the State telling me I owed them $16,000 for all my brother's medical expenses. I was in shock....how was I to come up with that kind of money? I called and spoke to the woman who sent the letter and explained my situation but it fell on deaf ears. I was told my brother's house would have to be put on the market and sold so that the State could get their pound of flesh. I explained to this woman that the home was in no shape to be put up for sale but it made no difference. It took my husband and I 6 months to clean out the house, paint, replace appliances, redo counters and tile and finally were lucky enough to have someone give us a decent offer. It was only shear luck that this all happened as it was that next summer that my husband was diagnosed with his heart condition. Read the fine print before signing anything.
I resigned a job as a corrections officer in Texas and moved back home to help my Dad care for Mom...Dad died two years later. I have no income and have no idea where to find help? Social Security does not cover expenses for a month. Where can I find financial help/get paid for my caregiving work with Mom?
That's the state for you. They don't care a rats butt about people only themselves. They want their share of the money even though they aren't doing any of the work. and of course going to a nursing home would cost more money. dah! FOR THEM.... I think everyone should write a letter to our congress and push the issue to get paid for taking care of our parents that maybe they could set up a fund just for that, (and not touch it for their needs) so we could get paid without all the hassels.
very helpful article, unfortunately my state doesn't participate with C & C.
I just got off the phone with the Ohio District 5 counsel on ageing about trying to get paid for caring for my mother who has Alzheimer's. Their answer was to contact Passport. My niece's grandmother had that and when she passed they came in and took everything to cover her care while she was alive. Her father was her caregiver and was living there. They (Passport) had him evicted and they sold the house. They told me that I would have to get certified to take care of me mother in order to get paid. I have been caring for my mother for about 10 years now so how is me, spending more money that I don't have to get a piece of paper stating that I know how to care for my mother going to help? It would cost the government more money to have mom in a nursing home than if I would stay home and care for her. I DON'T GET IT!!!