The Arizona caregiver program
Arizona pays family members to care for a relative at home through ALTCS self-directed care. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Arizona at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $13–$16/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- None
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Arizona?
Who do you care for?
- 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
Arizona programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Arizona it runs through:
- ALTCS self-directed care
- Agency with Choice
- Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG)
How it works: both routes use an agency layer: SDAC is fully self-directed (participant is employer, FMS agency runs payroll/taxes); Agency with Choice shares employer duties with a provider agency; spouses reportedly must use the agency route. The programs are administered by Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), 1-888-621-6880; DES Division of Developmental Disabilities for members with developmental disabilities.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Arizona?
Arizona has no IHSS by name. Its equivalent runs through ALTCS, the Arizona Long Term Care System, whose self-directed and Agency with Choice options let a member hire a relative — including, under Parents as Paid Caregivers, a parent.
Whatever the name, the model is the same one people mean by consumer-directed care: the person who needs help chooses their caregiver, and that caregiver can be family. See how CDPAP and IHSS work if a relative in New York or California described theirs to you.
What Arizona pays family caregivers
$13–$16/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Arizona Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Arizona
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Yes
- yes — spouses can be paid, but reportedly only through a provider agency (Agency with Choice), not fully independent SDAC
- Parent of a minor child Yes
- yes — PPCG made permanent by CMS approval; parents meeting Direct Care Worker requirements may provide attendant care/habilitation, capped at 40 paid hours/week per child (combined across parents) effective 7/1/2025 (HB2945)
How much does Arizona pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Arizona is around $13–$16/hr. typically at or near AZ minimum wage: ~$14.35/hour (2025) to ~$15.15/hour (2026); commonly reported $13–$16/hour varying by health plan and agency; ~30–40 hours/week approved.
Your hours come from your relative's needs assessment, not from how many hours you actually work — which is why preparing for that assessment matters more than anything else. The detail is on the Arizona caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Arizona?
No waitlist reported. no waitlist — ALTCS is an entitlement; eligibility equals enrollment. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Arizona pays family instead of an agency
1.5 million people in Arizona — 20% of the state — are 65 or older, across 15 counties. There are not enough agency home care workers for all of them, and care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So the state pays the person already doing the work: you. If you would rather hire help, see what in-home care costs and home care agencies that hire family members.
How to become a paid caregiver for a family member in Arizona
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Arizona program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Arizona confirms Medicaid eligibility and assesses how much help your relative needs. Those hours become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enroll and name you
Your relative enrolls in ALTCS self-directed care and names you as their caregiver. Background check and payroll forms follow.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
Where to apply: Apply to ALTCS by calling 1-888-621-6880, online via Health-e-Arizona Plus, or at a local ALTCS office; families of children with developmental disabilities also work through DES/DDD.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Arizona caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Arizona called?
In Arizona, family caregivers are paid through ALTCS self-directed care, Agency with Choice, Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG). Arizona has no IHSS by name. Its equivalent runs through ALTCS, the Arizona Long Term Care System, whose self-directed and Agency with Choice options let a member hire a relative — including, under Parents as Paid Caregivers, a parent.
Does Arizona have CDPAP or IHSS?
Arizona has no IHSS by name. Its equivalent runs through ALTCS, the Arizona Long Term Care System, whose self-directed and Agency with Choice options let a member hire a relative — including, under Parents as Paid Caregivers, a parent.
How much does Arizona pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $13–$16/hr. typically at or near AZ minimum wage: ~$14.35/hour (2025) to ~$15.15/hour (2026); commonly reported $13–$16/hour varying by health plan and agency; ~30–40 hours/week approved.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Arizona?
yes — spouses can be paid, but reportedly only through a provider agency (Agency with Choice), not fully independent SDAC
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Arizona?
yes — PPCG made permanent by CMS approval; parents meeting Direct Care Worker requirements may provide attendant care/habilitation, capped at 40 paid hours/week per child (combined across parents) effective 7/1/2025 (HB2945)
Is there a waitlist for the Arizona caregiver program?
no waitlist — ALTCS is an entitlement; eligibility equals enrollment
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Arizona?
Apply to ALTCS by calling 1-888-621-6880, online via Health-e-Arizona Plus, or at a local ALTCS office; families of children with developmental disabilities also work through DES/DDD.
Who runs the Arizona Medicaid caregiver program?
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), 1-888-621-6880; DES Division of Developmental Disabilities for members with developmental disabilities.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · azahcccs.gov · des.az.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Arizona caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Arizona — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Arizona
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.