Arkansas · self-direction option
IndependentChoices in Arkansas
IndependentChoices is Arkansas Medicaid's self-directed option for adults who get personal care or ARChoices attendant care. Instead of agency care, the member gets a monthly cash allowance and hires their own personal assistant, who can be an adult child or other relative. Spouses, legal guardians, powers of attorney and income payees cannot be paid.
Also called: Independent Choices · IndependentChoices Arkansas · Arkansas Cash and Counseling · self-direction Arkansas · PPL Arkansas
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- Not published
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- Not right now
- Parent of a minor child
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- none
Who qualifies for IndependentChoices
- Eligible for Arkansas Medicaid in a category that covers personal care, or SSI, or eligible for ARChoices.
- 18 years of age or older.
- Receiving, or medically eligible to receive, State Plan personal care or ARChoices attendant care.
- Not living in a home owned, operated or controlled by a service provider, unless the provider is related by blood or marriage.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- family members other than those with legal responsibility may serve as personal assistants, including adult children.
- Spouse Not right now
- the state manual says a court-appointed legal guardian, spouse, power of attorney or income payee may not serve as a caregiver.
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- IndependentChoices serves adults 18 and older.
- Living together
- the assistant may or may not live with the member.
Who employs the caregiver: The member (or a representative) is the employer of record. The financial management services agency, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) since October 1, 2023, runs payroll and taxes.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Arkansas.
How much IndependentChoices pays
Not published. There is no fixed family-caregiver wage. The monthly cash allowance is based on assessed hours and calculated at a maximum hourly rate of 78.11% of the Medicaid personal care rate; the member sets the assistant's wage within it. For ARChoices members, the allowance is also limited by the ARChoices service budget.
Hours and budget: DHS staff or a DHS contractor use Task and Hour Standards to set hours. A support coordinator helps the member write a Cash Expenditure Plan showing how the allowance will be spent.
Compare with other Arkansas programs on the Arkansas caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
Through State Plan personal care there is no waitlist. Members coming through ARChoices need a waiver slot first, and ARChoices can have a waitlist.
How to apply for IndependentChoices
- Apply for Medicaid long-term services and supports at Access Arkansas (access.arkansas.gov) or a local DHS county office.
- Get a nurse assessment for personal care or ARChoices attendant care.
- Ask to enroll in IndependentChoices; a counseling support coordinator and the fiscal agent help complete the enrollment packet.
- Name a personal assistant and a backup caregiver; both pass background and registry checks before pay starts.
- Arkansas DHS – Self-Direction (IndependentChoices) · official site
- Choices in Living Resource Center · 866-801-3435 · official site
- Public Partnerships (PPL) – Arkansas · official site
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IndependentChoices questions
Can I get paid to take care of my mother in Arkansas?
Yes. If your mother qualifies for Medicaid personal care or ARChoices, she can enroll in IndependentChoices and hire you as her personal assistant.
Can a spouse be paid through IndependentChoices?
No. Arkansas rules say a spouse, court-appointed guardian, power of attorney or income payee cannot be the paid caregiver.
How is the allowance calculated?
It is based on the hours DHS approves, at a maximum hourly rate of 78.11% of the Medicaid personal care rate.
Do I need a backup caregiver?
Yes. A backup plan naming a backup caregiver is required, and that person must also enroll.
Who is the fiscal agent?
Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) has been the financial management services vendor since October 1, 2023.
Sources: humanservices.arkansas.gov · humanservices.arkansas.gov · humanservices.arkansas.gov · pplfirst.com · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
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.
Across the line
States that border Arkansas
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.