The California caregiver program
California pays family members to care for a relative at home through IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
California at a glance
- Programs
- 1
- Reported pay
- $16.90–$22/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- None
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in California?
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
California programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In California it runs through:
- IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services)
How it works: fully self-directed — recipient is the employer who hires/fires/supervises; no agency required; the state/county payroll system (CMIPS) issues paychecks and withholds taxes. The programs are administered by California Department of Social Services (CDSS) with DHCS; administered day-to-day by county IHSS/social services offices.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in California?
California is where the name IHSS comes from. The county IHSS office assesses the hours, the person receiving care hires the provider — who can be a son, daughter or other relative — and the state pays the provider directly.
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 California pays family caregivers
$16.90–$22/hr
Source: California Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in California
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- limited — a spouse can be a paid IHSS provider but under the 'able and available spouse' rule is compensable only for personal care and paramedical services, not domestic/related services
- Parent of a minor child Yes
- yes — AB 1287 (effective 2024) eliminated the old restrictions (no-other-provider and left-employment tests); parents of minor recipients now enroll on the same basis as any provider with background check
How much does California pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in California is around $16.90–$22/hr. county-negotiated wages ~$16.90–$22+/hour (2026); state minimum $16.90/hour as of 1/1/2026; statewide average IHSS cost ~$21.85/hour (2025–26 state budget estimate).
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 California caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in California?
No waitlist reported. no waitlist — IHSS is a state-plan entitlement. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why California pays family instead of an agency
6.5 million people in California — 17% of the state — are 65 or older, across 58 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 California
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which California program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
California 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 IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) 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: Contact the IHSS office in your county and submit an Application for In-Home Supportive Services (SOC 295); a county social worker then does an in-home needs assessment.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
California caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in California called?
In California, family caregivers are paid through IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services). California is where the name IHSS comes from. The county IHSS office assesses the hours, the person receiving care hires the provider — who can be a son, daughter or other relative — and the state pays the provider directly.
Does California have CDPAP or IHSS?
California is where the name IHSS comes from. The county IHSS office assesses the hours, the person receiving care hires the provider — who can be a son, daughter or other relative — and the state pays the provider directly.
How much does California pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $16.90–$22/hr. county-negotiated wages ~$16.90–$22+/hour (2026); state minimum $16.90/hour as of 1/1/2026; statewide average IHSS cost ~$21.85/hour (2025–26 state budget estimate).
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in California?
limited — a spouse can be a paid IHSS provider but under the 'able and available spouse' rule is compensable only for personal care and paramedical services, not domestic/related services
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in California?
yes — AB 1287 (effective 2024) eliminated the old restrictions (no-other-provider and left-employment tests); parents of minor recipients now enroll on the same basis as any provider with background check
Is there a waitlist for the California caregiver program?
no waitlist — IHSS is a state-plan entitlement
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in California?
Contact the IHSS office in your county and submit an Application for In-Home Supportive Services (SOC 295); a county social worker then does an in-home needs assessment.
Who runs the California Medicaid caregiver program?
California Department of Social Services (CDSS) with DHCS; administered day-to-day by county IHSS/social services offices.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · cdss.ca.gov · disabilityrightsca.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most California caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in California — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border California
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.