What family caregivers are paid in Arkansas
Arkansas doesn't publish one flat rate, and we won't invent one. Your pay comes out of a care budget the state sets from your relative's assessed needs. We get you the real number before you enroll.
Arkansas at a glance
- Reported pay
- Varies
- Programs
- 2
- Spouse pay
- No
- Waitlist
- Mixed
no flat rate published
that can pay a relative
full rule on the spouse page
apply early either way
- 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
What Arkansas pays family caregivers
Rates vary — check with the program.
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Arkansas Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
self-directed (Cash & Counseling model) — participant is employer; a financial management service (FMS) handles tax withholding and caregiver payroll
- Spouse can be paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- Some programs have no waitlist.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Arkansas it runs through IndependentChoices, ARChoices in Homecare, administered by Arkansas Department of Human Services (Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services); Choices in Living Resource Center 866-801-3435; Division of Medical Services 501-682-8292
562,800 people in Arkansas — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 75 counties. The programs on this page exist because caring for them at home costs the state far less than a nursing home does.
From first call to first paycheck
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions tell you which Arkansas program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Arkansas confirms your relative qualifies and how much help they need. The hours in that assessment become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enrol and hire
Your relative enrols, then names you as their caregiver. Background check, paperwork, done.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
How to start in Arkansas: Apply online at Access Arkansas or at a local DHS county office with the Long-Term Services and Supports application, or call the Choices in Living Resource Center at 866-801-3435; then elect IndependentChoices.
Arkansas pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Arkansas?
Arkansas does not publish a single rate. Pay is set from your relative's assessed needs and the program's budget. Anyone quoting you one flat Arkansas number is guessing — we get you the real one before you enroll.
What decides my exact hourly rate?
Three things: how much help your relative is assessed as needing, which Arkansas program they are on, and who administers the payroll. self-directed (Cash & Counseling model) — participant is employer; a financial management service (FMS) handles tax withholding and caregiver payroll
How many hours a week can I be paid for?
Hours come from the care assessment, not from how many you actually work. That is the single biggest thing families get wrong — an honest assessment is worth more than any negotiation later. We help you prepare for it.
Is family caregiver pay taxable?
Usually yes — it is normally treated as wages, with taxes withheld. One exception is worth asking about: the IRS difficulty-of-care rule can make some payments tax-free when the caregiver lives with the person receiving care.
Can I be paid to care for my spouse in Arkansas?
no — spouses and legal guardians are prohibited from being hired; other relatives including adult children can be paid There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Arkansas.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Arkansas?
no pathway found — IndependentChoices serves adults (18+); no parent-of-minor payment provision located
Is there a waitlist in Arkansas?
IndependentChoices via State Plan Personal Care is an entitlement (no waitlist); the ARChoices waiver is capped (~11,500 slots/year) and can form a waitlist
How do I apply in Arkansas?
Apply online at Access Arkansas or at a local DHS county office with the Long-Term Services and Supports application, or call the Choices in Living Resource Center at 866-801-3435; then elect IndependentChoices.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Arkansas →
Sources: humanservices.arkansas.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · pplfirst.com · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Arkansas families
Start with the Arkansas caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Arkansas caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Arkansas — pick yours for the local picture.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.