Can a spouse be paid?
YesYes — Colorado can pay you to care for your spouse.
The fine print: yes — spouses can be hired under CDASS/IHSS; spouse-as-LRP homemaker capped at 7 hrs/week
Free toolSee what Colorado pays →
Get paid as a family caregiver in Colorado
Colorado runs real Medicaid programs that pay family members to care for a loved one at home. Here is what they pay, who can be paid, and how to start.
Colorado at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 975,900
- Counties
- 64
- Programs
- 3
- Spouse pay
- Yes
16% of the state
each with its own page
that can pay a relative
see the full rule below
- 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 Colorado pays family caregivers
$17–$20/hr
Source: Colorado Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Waitlist in Colorado
No waitlist. If you qualify, you're in.
no waitlist — CFC is a state plan entitlement (since 7/1/2025); EBD waiver also historically no waitlist
The two big questions
Can a parent be paid for a child?
YesYes — Colorado has a path for parents of children who need care.
The fine print: yes — via CFC/IHSS personal care ('extraordinary care' required) or by becoming a certified Family CNA paid through a home health agency
Colorado's programs
Run by: Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) / Health First Colorado, via local Case Management Agencies
CDASS
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →IHSS
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →Family CNA program
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →How to apply in Colorado
Check your match — 2 minutes, free.
Our quick check tells you which programs fit your family before you talk to anyone.
Start the state application.
Contact the local Case Management Agency (Single Entry Point) for a nursing-facility level-of-care assessment; must be enrolled in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) first.
We help at every step.
Forms, phone calls, the enrollment visit — we walk you through it all, free.
Colorado questions, answered honestly
Is this legit?
Yes. These are real Medicaid programs run by the state. In Colorado, they are overseen by the Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) / Health First Colorado. We help you enroll — applying costs you nothing.
Why would the government pay me?
Care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So states pay family members to give that care at home. It's good for your loved one, and it's the law working the way it should.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Colorado?
Yes — Colorado can pay you to care for your spouse. The fine print: yes — spouses can be hired under CDASS/IHSS; spouse-as-LRP homemaker capped at 7 hrs/week
Can I get paid to care for my child in Colorado?
Yes — Colorado has a path for parents of children who need care. The fine print: yes — via CFC/IHSS personal care ('extraordinary care' required) or by becoming a certified Family CNA paid through a home health agency
How much do family caregivers get paid in Colorado?
Family caregivers here typically earn $17–$20/hr.
Is there a waitlist?
No waitlist. If you qualify, you're in. Details: no waitlist — CFC is a state plan entitlement (since 7/1/2025); EBD waiver also historically no waitlist
Do I have to work for an agency?
It depends on the program. In Colorado: self-directed: CDASS uses an FMS (fiscal management service) vendor for payroll only; IHSS and Family CNA route through a licensed IHSS/home-health agency
Sources: hcpf.colorado.gov · payingforseniorcare.com · kidswaivers.org · Updated September 2026. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Browse Colorado by county
The programs are the same across Colorado. Pick your county to see how they work where you live.
- El Paso
- Denver
- Arapahoe
- Jefferson
- Adams
- Douglas
- Larimer
- Weld
- Boulder
- Pueblo
- Mesa
- Broomfield
- Garfield
- La Plata
- Eagle
- Fremont
- Montrose
- Delta
- Summit
- Morgan
- Elbert
- Montezuma
- Routt
- Teller
- Chaffee
- Logan
- Park
- Otero
- Gunnison
- Alamosa
- Pitkin
- Grand
- Las Animas
- Archuleta
- Moffat
- Prowers
- Rio Grande
- Yuma
- Clear Creek
- San Miguel
- Conejos
- Lake
- Kit Carson
- Huerfano
- Saguache
- Rio Blanco
- Gilpin
- Bent
- Crowley
- Lincoln
- Custer
- Ouray
- Washington
- Phillips
- Costilla
- Baca
- Dolores
- Sedgwick
- Cheyenne
- Kiowa
- Jackson
- Mineral
- San Juan
- Hinsdale
Guides
For Colorado families
Start with the Colorado caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Across the line
States that border Colorado
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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.