Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Arkansas?
Not directly in Arkansas today — but read on.
Arkansas's programs generally will not pay a husband or wife directly — the old Medicaid rules treat a spouse's care as a family duty rather than a job. That is not the end of it. Other relatives usually can be paid, and the rules do change.
Who can be paid instead
- An adult son or daughter — the most common paid caregiver in every state.
- A sibling, a grandchild, a niece or nephew, or an in-law.
- A close friend or neighbor, in most self-directed programs.
- A spouse in a different program year — Arkansas's rules are reviewed regularly, and we watch them.
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 Arkansas's rule actually says
no — spouses and legal guardians are prohibited from being hired; other relatives including adult children can be paid
The programs this runs through in Arkansas: IndependentChoices, ARChoices in Homecare. Who runs them: 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 are 65 or older. Most of them are cared for at home, by a relative — usually without being paid for it.
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.
self-directed (Cash & Counseling model) — participant is employer; a financial management service (FMS) handles tax withholding and caregiver payroll
See if you qualify →Spouse questions in Arkansas, answered
Can I get paid to care for my husband or wife in Arkansas?
Generally not directly. The published rule: no — spouses and legal guardians are prohibited from being hired; other relatives including adult children can be paid Other relatives can usually be paid, and that is worth checking.
Why do some states allow this and others don't?
Medicaid has long treated care between spouses as a family duty rather than paid work. Self-directed programs changed that in many states by making the person who needs care the employer — they choose their own worker, and in some states that can be a spouse. It is a state-by-state policy choice, not a federal rule.
How much would I earn in Arkansas?
Arkansas does not publish one flat rate — the program sets your pay from the care plan. We tell you your real number before you enroll.
Does my spouse need Medicaid first?
Yes. These are Medicaid programs, so your spouse has to qualify for Arkansas Medicaid and need long-term care help. Many families assume they earn too much and never apply. The rules for long-term care are not the same as regular Medicaid — check before you rule yourself out.
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 we start?
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.
Sources: humanservices.arkansas.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · pplfirst.com · Updated September 2026. 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.
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