What family caregivers are paid in Illinois
Around $18–$20/hr. Your pay is not a posted wage — it comes out of a care budget Illinois sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers on the same street can be paid differently.
Illinois at a glance
- Reported pay
- $18–$20/hr
- Programs
- 3
- Spouse pay
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Mixed
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 Illinois pays family caregivers
$18–$20/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Illinois Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
CCP: caregiver must be hired and supervised by a contracted In-Home Services agency; HSP: consumer-directed — customer hires the personal assistant directly and the state handles payroll; MFTD: parent-nurse employed via nursing agency
- Spouse can be paid?
- Sometimes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Some programs have no waitlist.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Illinois it runs through Community Care Program (CCP), Home Services Program (HSP), MFTD Waiver (children), administered by Illinois Dept. on Aging (CCP; Senior HelpLine 800-252-8966); IDHS Division of Rehabilitation Services (HSP; 877-581-3690); HFS is the Medicaid agency
2.3 million people in Illinois — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 102 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 Illinois program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Illinois 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 Illinois: Age 60+: call the Senior HelpLine 800-252-8966 to reach the local Care Coordination Unit for a CCP assessment; under 60: apply through the local DHS-DRS Home Services Program office; medically fragile children: contact UIC DSCC.
Illinois pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Illinois?
Figures reported for Illinois land around $18–$20/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 Illinois program they are on, and who administers the payroll. CCP: caregiver must be hired and supervised by a contracted In-Home Services agency; HSP: consumer-directed — customer hires the personal assistant directly and the state handles payroll; MFTD: parent-nurse employed via nursing agency
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 Illinois?
limited — CCP: yes, any family member including a spouse may be hired (recent expansion, via agency with background check + 24-hr training); HSP: no, spouses excluded as legally responsible relatives There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Illinois.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Illinois?
limited — HSP excludes parents of a minor recipient; MFTD waiver pays parents who hold an RN/LPN license for skilled nursing (paid-CNA parent option proposed 2025, not yet approved)
Is there a waitlist in Illinois?
generally no waitlist — CCP and HSP enroll eligible applicants without waiver waitlists
How do I apply in Illinois?
Age 60+: call the Senior HelpLine 800-252-8966 to reach the local Care Coordination Unit for a CCP assessment; under 60: apply through the local DHS-DRS Home Services Program office; medically fragile children: contact UIC DSCC.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Illinois →
Sources: ilaging.illinois.gov · dhs.state.il.us · dscc.uic.edu · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Illinois families
Start with the Illinois caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Illinois caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Illinois — 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.