The Maine caregiver program
Maine pays family members to care for a relative at home through Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Maine at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $17–$27/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Maine?
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
Maine programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Maine it runs through:
- Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12)
- Home & Community Benefits (Section 19)
- Family Home Health Aide (children, 2026)
How it works: member is the employer (hires/trains/fires); a fiscal intermediary is required for background checks, taxes, and payments. The programs are administered by Maine DHHS — Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) 855-797-4357; assessments by Maximus 833-525-5784.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Maine?
Maine has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Maine equivalent runs through Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12), Home & Community Benefits (Section 19), Family Home Health Aide (children, 2026), 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 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
Who can be paid in Maine
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- 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
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- limited — new Family Home Health Aide Program (implementation from early 2026) will reimburse parents of minors; parents who are nurses payable in exceptional circumstances
How much does Maine pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Maine is around $17–$27/hr. reported ~$17–$27/hr for family caregivers under CDAS/Section 19 (2026, third-party figure).
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 Maine caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Maine?
Depends on the program. Section 12 CDAS is an entitlement — no waitlist; Section 19 waiver capped (~4,126 slots) and a waitlist forms when full. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Maine pays family instead of an agency
330,300 people in Maine — 24% of the state — are 65 or older, across 16 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 Maine
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Maine program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Maine 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 Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12) 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 for MaineCare via My Maine Connection, 855-797-4357, or a district DHHS office; Maximus (833-525-5784) does the functional assessment.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Maine caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Maine called?
In Maine, family caregivers are paid through Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12), Home & Community Benefits (Section 19), Family Home Health Aide (children, 2026). Maine has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Maine equivalent runs through Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12), Home & Community Benefits (Section 19), Family Home Health Aide (children, 2026), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Maine have CDPAP or IHSS?
Maine has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Maine equivalent runs through Consumer Directed Attendant Services (Section 12), Home & Community Benefits (Section 19), Family Home Health Aide (children, 2026), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Maine pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $17–$27/hr. reported ~$17–$27/hr for family caregivers under CDAS/Section 19 (2026, third-party figure).
Can I get paid to take care of 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
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled 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 for the Maine caregiver program?
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 to be a paid caregiver 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.
Who runs the Maine Medicaid caregiver program?
Maine DHHS — Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) 855-797-4357; assessments by Maximus 833-525-5784.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · payingforseniorcare.com · Updated September 2026. Rules 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.
Across the line
States that border Maine
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.