Can a person get paid for caring for their parents in their parents' home?
Answers
You might be able to get some pay directly from the state for taking care of your parents if they have few assets (other than their home) and little income. If they require home care, and have low income and assets, they might be entitled to receive it through Medicaid. But instead of getting that care from a Medicaid home care agency, it might be possible – depending on the rules in the state where you live -- to have the state pay your parents directly. They could then use the money to pay you for taking care of them. In some states, this kind of cash assistance is possible even your parents have slightly too much income or assets to qualify for Medicaid.
All this depends on your state having a program called Cash and Counseling, or a similar program. To find out more about these cash assistance programs, go to the page on this site called How to Get Paid for Being Your Parent's Caregiver.
Your mother can apply for Medicaid and Cash and Counseling, or for a similar state cash assistance program, at your local Medicaid office. To find the local Medicaid (social services) office near you, contact the Eldercare Locator by phone toll-free at 800-677-1116, or go online to any search engine and type in the word Medicaid plus the name of your state.
