Can a spouse be paid?
SometimesSometimes — it depends on the program and the care needed.
The fine print: limited — yes under SMMC-LTC PDO (must be 'extraordinary care' beyond normal spousal duties, background screening required); no under CDC+
Florida 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.
22% of the state
each with its own page
that can pay a relative
see the full rule below

Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
$15–$25/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Florida Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Waitlists here can be long. Apply as soon as you can.
yes — SMMC-LTC is not an entitlement: waitlist ranked by frailty priority score (not wait time); iBudget/CDC+ waitlist is years long (10+ yrs for non-crisis categories)
Sometimes — it depends on the program and the care needed.
The fine print: limited — yes under SMMC-LTC PDO (must be 'extraordinary care' beyond normal spousal duties, background screening required); no under CDC+
Yes — Florida has a path for parents of children who need care.
The fine print: yes — FHHA program pays a trained parent $25/hr (up to 8 hrs/day) for a PDN-eligible child under 21; 1915(j) also lets parents of minors on iBudget be paid for self-directed personal care via CDC+
Run by: Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) administers SMMC-LTC/FHHA
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →A path for children who need extra care.
2-min check →Our quick check tells you which programs fit your family before you talk to anyone.
Call the local Aging & Disability Resource Center (Elder Helpline 1-800-963-5337) for the phone screening that sets the priority score; CARES assessment + Medicaid application follow when a slot opens. For children/FHHA contact a participating home health agency; for CDC+ go through APD.
Forms, phone calls, the enrollment visit — we walk you through it all, free.
Yes. These are real Medicaid programs run by the state. In Florida, they are overseen by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) administers SMMC-LTC/FHHA. We help you enroll — applying costs you nothing.
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.
Sometimes — it depends on the program and the care needed. The fine print: limited — yes under SMMC-LTC PDO (must be 'extraordinary care' beyond normal spousal duties, background screening required); no under CDC+
Yes — Florida has a path for parents of children who need care. The fine print: yes — FHHA program pays a trained parent $25/hr (up to 8 hrs/day) for a PDN-eligible child under 21; 1915(j) also lets parents of minors on iBudget be paid for self-directed personal care via CDC+
Reported figures are around $15–$25/hr, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Waitlists here can be long. Apply as soon as you can. Details: yes — SMMC-LTC is not an entitlement: waitlist ranked by frailty priority score (not wait time); iBudget/CDC+ waitlist is years long (10+ yrs for non-crisis categories)
It depends on the program. In Florida: PDO is self-directed with the plan/fiscal agent handling payroll; CDC+ is self-directed with a state Fiscal/Employer Agent; FHHA requires employment through a licensed home health agency
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · ahca.myflorida.com · apd.myflorida.com · Updated September 2026. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
The programs are the same across Florida. Pick your county to see how they work where you live.
Guides
Start with the Florida caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Across the line
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.
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.