What family caregivers are paid in Delaware
Around $13–$21/hr. Your pay is not a posted wage — it comes out of a care budget Delaware sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers on the same street can be paid differently.
Delaware at a glance
- Reported pay
- $13–$21/hr
- Programs
- 1
- Spouse pay
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- None
set inside the care plan
that can pay a relative
full rule on the spouse page
apply early either way
- 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 Delaware pays family caregivers
$13–$21/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Delaware Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
self-directed through the member's managed care organization; a financial management services agency handles payroll/taxes/background checks
- Spouse can be paid?
- Sometimes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- No waitlist.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Delaware it runs through DSHP-Plus self-directed care, administered by Delaware Health & Social Services, Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA); Central Intake 1-866-940-8963, Customer Relations 1-866-843-7212
229,000 people in Delaware — 22% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 3 counties. The programs on this page exist because caring for them at home costs the state far less than a nursing home does.
From first call to first paycheck
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions tell you which Delaware program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Delaware confirms your relative qualifies and how much help they need. The hours in that assessment become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enrol and hire
Your relative enrols, then names you as their caregiver. Background check, paperwork, done.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
How to start in Delaware: Call the DMMA Central Intake Unit at 866-940-8963 to request an application; eligibility determination (financial + nursing-facility level of care) can take up to 3 months.
Delaware pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Delaware?
Figures reported for Delaware land around $13–$21/hr, but that is a range, not a promise. Your rate is set inside your relative's care plan and budget. We tell you your real number before you enroll.
What decides my exact hourly rate?
Three things: how much help your relative is assessed as needing, which Delaware program they are on, and who administers the payroll. self-directed through the member's managed care organization; a financial management services agency handles payroll/taxes/background checks
How many hours a week can I be paid for?
Hours come from the care assessment, not from how many you actually work. That is the single biggest thing families get wrong — an honest assessment is worth more than any negotiation later. We help you prepare for it.
Is family caregiver pay taxable?
Usually yes — it is normally treated as wages, with taxes withheld. One exception is worth asking about: the IRS difficulty-of-care rule can make some payments tax-free when the caregiver lives with the person receiving care.
Can I be paid to care for my spouse in Delaware?
limited — DSHP-Plus managed care policy bars people legally responsible for the member from serving as the paid attendant; confirm any spouse arrangement with the MCO There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Delaware.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Delaware?
yes — parents/guardians can be paid for personal care up to 40 hrs/week under the demonstration waiver; another adult must sign timesheets/paperwork
Is there a waitlist in Delaware?
no waitlist — DSHP-Plus is an entitlement (eligibility = enrollment)
How do I apply in Delaware?
Call the DMMA Central Intake Unit at 866-940-8963 to request an application; eligibility determination (financial + nursing-facility level of care) can take up to 3 months.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Delaware →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · kidswaivers.org · payingforseniorcare.com · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Delaware families
Start with the Delaware caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Delaware caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Delaware — pick yours for the local picture.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.