How much do family caregivers get paid in Maine?
Around $17–$27/hr — and here is what moves that number.
Your pay is not a posted wage. It comes out of a care budget that Maine sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers in the same town can be paid differently.
What Maine pays family caregivers
$17–$27/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Maine Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
member is the employer (hires/trains/fires); a fiscal intermediary is required for background checks, taxes, and payments
- 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 Maine it runs through Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12), Home & Community Benefits (Section 19), Family Home Health Aide (children, 2026), administered by Maine DHHS — Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) 855-797-4357; assessments by Maximus 833-525-5784
330,300 people in Maine — 24% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 16 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 Maine program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Maine 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 Maine: Apply for MaineCare via My Maine Connection, 855-797-4357, or a district DHHS office; Maximus (833-525-5784) does the functional assessment.
Maine pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Maine?
Figures reported for Maine land around $17–$27/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 Maine program they are on, and who administers the payroll. member is the employer (hires/trains/fires); a fiscal intermediary is required for background checks, taxes, and payments
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 Maine?
limited — spouses/legally responsible relatives excluded from CDAS and Section 19 hires, EXCEPT Resolves 2019 ch.104 lets a spouse be paid as a Personal Support Specialist for members needing extraordinary care There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Maine.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Maine?
limited — new Family Home Health Aide Program (implementation from early 2026) will reimburse parents of minors; parents who are nurses payable in exceptional circumstances
Is there a waitlist in Maine?
Section 12 CDAS is an entitlement — no waitlist; Section 19 waiver capped (~4,126 slots) and a waitlist forms when full
How do I apply in Maine?
Apply for MaineCare via My Maine Connection, 855-797-4357, or a district DHHS office; Maximus (833-525-5784) does the functional assessment.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Maine →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · payingforseniorcare.com · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Maine caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Maine — 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.