The Kentucky caregiver program
Kentucky pays family members to care for a relative at home through Participant Directed Services (PDS). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Kentucky at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $29.04/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Long
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Kentucky?
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
Kentucky programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Kentucky it runs through:
- Participant Directed Services (PDS)
- HCB Waiver
- Michelle P. Waiver
How it works: self-directed with mandatory financial management services agency for payroll/taxes; support broker/case manager assists. The programs are administered by KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services — Dept. for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) 877-315-0589; Waiver Help Desk 844-784-5614.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Kentucky?
Kentucky calls it Participant Directed Services, available across several waivers, where the participant hires their own employee.
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 Kentucky pays family caregivers
$29.04/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Kentucky Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Kentucky
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- limited — under the HCB waiver a spouse can be paid through Participant Directed Services only with written state approval (907 KAR 7:010); the Michelle P. waiver allows spouses, up to 40 hours a week
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- limited — parents/guardians (legally responsible individuals) payable under Michelle P./HCB only for extraordinary or specialized care (rule eff. 7/1/2024), capped 40 hrs/wk combined, CPR training required
How much does Kentucky pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Kentucky is around $29.04/hr. PDS attendant care max reimbursement $29.04/hr (reported 2026; caregiver take-home is lower after FMS costs).
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 Kentucky caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Kentucky?
Waitlists can be long. HCB Waiver ~17,800 slots/yr — waitlist forms when full; Michelle P. Waiver has a long-standing multi-year waitlist. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Kentucky pays family instead of an agency
826,700 people in Kentucky — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, across 120 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 Kentucky
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Kentucky program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Kentucky 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 Participant Directed Services (PDS) 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: Apply via kynect.ky.gov, phone 855-306-8959, or in person; PDS enrollment goes through the case manager or the regional Area Development District/AAA.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Kentucky caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Kentucky called?
In Kentucky, family caregivers are paid through Participant Directed Services (PDS), HCB Waiver, Michelle P. Waiver. Kentucky calls it Participant Directed Services, available across several waivers, where the participant hires their own employee.
Does Kentucky have CDPAP or IHSS?
Kentucky calls it Participant Directed Services, available across several waivers, where the participant hires their own employee.
How much does Kentucky pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $29.04/hr. PDS attendant care max reimbursement $29.04/hr (reported 2026; caregiver take-home is lower after FMS costs).
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Kentucky?
limited — under the HCB waiver a spouse can be paid through Participant Directed Services only with written state approval (907 KAR 7:010); the Michelle P. waiver allows spouses, up to 40 hours a week
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Kentucky?
limited — parents/guardians (legally responsible individuals) payable under Michelle P./HCB only for extraordinary or specialized care (rule eff. 7/1/2024), capped 40 hrs/wk combined, CPR training required
Is there a waitlist for the Kentucky caregiver program?
HCB Waiver ~17,800 slots/yr — waitlist forms when full; Michelle P. Waiver has a long-standing multi-year waitlist
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Kentucky?
Apply via kynect.ky.gov, phone 855-306-8959, or in person; PDS enrollment goes through the case manager or the regional Area Development District/AAA.
Who runs the Kentucky Medicaid caregiver program?
KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services — Dept. for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) 877-315-0589; Waiver Help Desk 844-784-5614.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · chfs.ky.gov · apps.legislature.ky.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Kentucky caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Kentucky — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Kentucky
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.