IRIS
Pays a spouse ✓You are the boss. You pick who cares for you — even a husband or wife. No waitlist.
Adults 18+ on Medicaid
Learn more →Your state pays family caregivers. Get paid to care for mom.
A Medicaid program, not a job board. We help you enroll and get paid — free to apply.
Who do you care for?
Weekly payment sent
$412.00 · example figure
This is a real Medicaid benefit
- Medicaid self-direction
- 50 states + DC
- Census-sourced county data
Free to apply — we're paid by the program, never by you
What states pay family caregivers
$11–$29
Rates vary by state
29 of 51 states publish an hourly figure. The rest set it inside the care plan — we get you that number before you enroll.
Each state's published Medicaid program rules · September 2026
Real pay for the care you already give
You already help with meals, baths, meds, and rides. Every state has a program that pays family members for exactly that work. Published rates run from about $11/hr to over $29/hr depending on where you live.
Your exact rate is set inside the program's budget, not by a posted wage. We'll show you your real number before you sign anything — and if your state doesn't publish a rate, we say so rather than making one up.
See what your state pays →- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
How it works
Four steps. We do the hard part — the paperwork.
- 2 minutes
See if you qualify
Answer 5 easy questions. You'll see your programs and pay range right away.
- about 1 week
We file the paperwork
We fill out the forms with you and send them to the right office. You don't chase anyone.
- 2–4 weeks
Enrollment visit
The program checks your loved one's care needs. We help you get ready for it.
- weekly
You get paid
Once enrolled, you're paid for the care you already give — by direct deposit.
Wisconsin's programs, in plain words
Wisconsin is where we started, so its programs are the ones we can explain in the most detail. Every other state has its own — pick yours.
Family Care
Pays a family member ✓A care team helps plan everything. It has a self-directed option so family can be hired.
Adults who need long-term care
Learn more →Personal Care (PCS)
Agency routeYou join a home care agency and get paid to care for your loved one on a schedule.
Medicaid members who need help at home
Learn more →CLTS Waiver
For childrenFor kids under 18 with special needs. Parents should ask about payment rules here.
Children under 18
Learn more →Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Honest answers
Is this legit?
Yes. Every state runs Medicaid programs that pay family caregivers — they have different names in each state, like IRIS in Wisconsin, IHSS in California, or CDASS in Colorado, and they have paid relatives for years. We simply help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
Why would the government pay me?
Care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So states pay family members to give that care at home instead. It is good for your loved one, and it is the law working the way it should.
How much will I get paid?
It depends on your state. Published hourly figures run from about $11 to just over $29, and 21 states do not publish a single hourly rate at all, because pay is set inside your loved one's care plan and budget. Pick your state and we will show you its real number before you enroll.
Do I need training or a license?
No license. Most programs need a simple background check, and some offer short training. If you already care for your loved one, you can likely do this.
What if my loved one doesn't have Medicaid yet?
That's okay. Many families qualify and don't know it. We help you check and apply — it's free.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse?
In 16 states, yes — their programs let the person who needs care hire their own husband or wife. In 20 more it depends on the program, and in 15 it is not allowed directly, though other relatives usually can be paid. Your state page gives you the straight answer.
How long does it take?
Most families finish enrollment in about 2 to 4 weeks after the paperwork goes in. Then payments arrive weekly.
The library
Guides for family caregivers
How to get paid to care for a family member
Every state has a Medicaid program that can pay you to take care of a family member at home. Who qualifies, what it pays, and how to apply — state by state.
Read →Medicaid family caregiver programs: how every state pays family
How Medicaid pays family caregivers in every state: program names, who can be paid, spouse rules and how to apply, from Florida and Georgia to Oregon.
Read →Family caregiver pay rates by state
What family caregivers are paid in every state — hourly wages, daily and monthly stipends, live-in pay, what sets your hours, and when the pay is tax-free.
Read →CDPAP: New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program
How New York's CDPAP works in 2026: eligibility, caregiver rules, pay, the move to PPL, home attendants, and what CDPAP is called in other states.
Read →IHSS: In-Home Supportive Services, and its equivalent in every state
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): who qualifies, 2026 pay, how a family member gets paid, how to apply — and which states have IHSS under another name.
Read →Does Medicare pay family caregivers?
Medicare doesn't pay family caregivers. What Medicare home health covers, Medicare Advantage in-home help, GUIDE respite, and how Medicaid pays family.
Read →The cost of in-home care, and how to pay for it
What in-home care costs per hour, for 24-hour and live-in care and for a nurse at home — plus every way to pay: Medicaid, VA, insurance and free options.
Read →FreedomCare explained: states, CDPAP changes and your other options
An independent look at FreedomCare: the 15 states it lists, what changed in New York CDPAP in 2025, how pay works, and other ways to get paid for family care.
Read →Home care agency vs. paid family caregiver
Agency aide or a paid family caregiver? Compare cost, control, continuity, backup coverage, training and taxes — and see which one suits your family.
Read →All 50 states and DC — 3,144 counties covered.
Pick your state in the 2-minute check and we'll show you what it pays.
Check my state →