Connecticut · waiver service
Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) in Connecticut
The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders helps people 65 and older stay at home instead of moving to a nursing home. It has a Medicaid waiver part and a state-funded part. Family members generally are not paid directly, but CHCPE is the doorway to Adult Family Living and self-directed personal care, where a relative other than a spouse can be paid.
Also called: CHCPE · CT Home Care Program for Elders · elder waiver Connecticut · Connecticut home care program
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- not published (AFL up to ~$500/week; PCA $23/hour minimum)
- Adult children & other relatives
- Sometimes
- Spouse
- Not right now
- Parent of a minor child
- the program serves people 65 and older.
- Waitlist
- possible
Who qualifies for CHCPE
- Age 65 or older and a Connecticut resident.
- At risk of nursing home placement — needs help with critical needs such as bathing, dressing, eating, taking medications or toileting.
- Meets income and asset rules: the Medicaid waiver part is reported at $2,982/month income in 2026; the state-funded part has no income limit but higher asset limits and a cost share.
- Services must fit within the program's cost limits.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Sometimes
- DSS says family members generally cannot be paid, with rare exceptions; the main exceptions are Adult Family Living and self-directed personal care attendant services, where a non-legally-liable relative can be paid.
- Spouse Not right now
- spouses are legally liable relatives and are excluded; DSS may even seek a contribution from a spouse.
- Parent of a minor child
- the program serves people 65 and older.
- Living together
- required only if the relative is paid through Adult Family Living.
Who employs the caregiver: Mostly agency-based with a care manager. Self-directed personal care attendant services and Adult Family Living (through an agency) are the routes that can pay a relative.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Connecticut.
How much CHCPE pays
not published (AFL up to ~$500/week; PCA $23/hour minimum). CHCPE pays provider agencies, not families, for most services. A relative paid through Adult Family Living gets an agency stipend reported up to about $500/week. A relative hired as a self-directed personal care attendant earns at least $23.00/hour under the 2026 PCA union contract.
Hours and budget: A care manager does an in-home assessment and builds a plan of care within cost limits that depend on the person's needs. State-funded participants pay a copay (the DSS brochure lists 9%; other DSS charts list lower rates, so ask the care manager).
Compare with other Connecticut programs on the Connecticut caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
The Medicaid waiver part has a yearly slot cap and can waitlist; one state-funded category has been closed to new applicants. Ask DSS about current openings.
How to apply for CHCPE
- Call 1-800-445-5394 (toll-free) or 860-424-4904 in the Hartford area and choose option 4, or submit an online referral.
- Have information ready about the help needed, health conditions and finances; a nurse or social worker checks whether the applicant appears eligible.
- A care manager visits the home, assesses needs and explains cost limits; the client and care manager agree on a plan of care.
- If a relative will provide care, ask about Adult Family Living or self-directed personal care attendant services when building the plan.
- CT DSS — Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders · 1-800-445-5394 · official site
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CHCPE questions
Does CHCPE pay family caregivers?
Not usually. DSS says family members are generally not paid, with rare exceptions. A relative who is not a spouse can be paid through Adult Family Living or as a self-directed personal care attendant.
What is the income limit for CHCPE in 2026?
For the Medicaid waiver part it is reported as $2,982 per month for one person (300% of the SSI benefit rate). The state-funded part has no income limit but stricter asset rules and a copay.
Do I have to pay anything?
People on the state-funded part pay a copay. Medicaid waiver members may owe applied income. The state can also recover costs from the estate after death.
Can I get paid to care for my husband or wife?
No. Spouses are excluded from paid roles in CHCPE, Adult Family Living and the PCA services.
How long does it take to start?
After the phone referral, a care manager must visit and confirm functional and financial eligibility. Medicaid financial approval can take weeks to months.
Sources: portal.ct.gov · portal.ct.gov · portal.ct.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Connecticut caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Connecticut — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Connecticut
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.