The Delaware caregiver program
Delaware pays family members to care for a relative at home through DSHP-Plus self-directed care. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Delaware at a glance
- Programs
- 1
- Reported pay
- $13–$21/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- None
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Delaware?
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
Delaware programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Delaware it runs through:
- DSHP-Plus self-directed care
How it works: self-directed through the member's managed care organization; a financial management services agency handles payroll/taxes/background checks. The programs are administered by Delaware Health & Social Services, Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA); Central Intake 1-866-940-8963, Customer Relations 1-866-843-7212.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Delaware?
Delaware has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Delaware equivalent runs through DSHP-Plus self-directed care, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
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 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
Who can be paid in Delaware
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- 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
- Parent of a minor child Yes
- yes — parents/guardians can be paid for personal care up to 40 hrs/week under the demonstration waiver; another adult must sign timesheets/paperwork
How much does Delaware pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Delaware is around $13–$21/hr. reported ~$13–$21/hr, avg ~$16.75/hr (2026, secondhand).
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 Delaware caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Delaware?
No waitlist reported. no waitlist — DSHP-Plus is an entitlement (eligibility = enrollment). Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Delaware pays family instead of an agency
229,000 people in Delaware — 22% of the state — are 65 or older, across 3 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 Delaware
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Delaware program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Delaware 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 DSHP-Plus self-directed care 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: 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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Delaware caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Delaware called?
In Delaware, family caregivers are paid through DSHP-Plus self-directed care. Delaware has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Delaware equivalent runs through DSHP-Plus self-directed care, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Delaware have CDPAP or IHSS?
Delaware has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Delaware equivalent runs through DSHP-Plus self-directed care, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Delaware pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $13–$21/hr. reported ~$13–$21/hr, avg ~$16.75/hr (2026, secondhand).
Can I get paid to take care of 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
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled 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 for the Delaware caregiver program?
no waitlist — DSHP-Plus is an entitlement (eligibility = enrollment)
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver 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.
Who runs the Delaware Medicaid caregiver program?
Delaware Health & Social Services, Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA); Central Intake 1-866-940-8963, Customer Relations 1-866-843-7212.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · kidswaivers.org · payingforseniorcare.com · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
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.
Across the line
States that border Delaware
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.