The Maryland caregiver program
Maryland pays family members to care for a relative at home through Community First Choice (CFC) and CPAS. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Maryland at a glance
- Programs
- 4
- Reported pay
- $16–$20/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- None
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Maryland?
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
Maryland programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Maryland it runs through:
- Community First Choice (CFC)
- CPAS
- Community Options Waiver
- DDA Waivers (children)
How it works: caregiver enrolls through a Medicaid personal assistance agency and a fiscal intermediary handles payroll/taxes; participant still selects and directs the caregiver. The programs are administered by Maryland Dept. of Health — Office of Long Term Services and Supports, CFC 410-767-1739; Maryland Access Point (MAP) 844-627-5465.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Maryland?
Maryland has no CDPAP by name. Its equivalents are Community First Choice and Community Personal Assistance Services, both of which allow a participant to 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 Maryland pays family caregivers
$16–$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: Maryland Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Maryland
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- limited — COMAR 10.09.84 bars only the participant's representative from being the paid worker, but an older state memo also barred spouses; confirm with the CFC/CPAS supports planner
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- limited — not via CFC (guardian/representative bar); DDA Community Pathways Waiver pays legally responsible parents up to 40 hrs/wk, and the Autism Waiver reimburses extraordinary care
How much does Maryland pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Maryland is around $16–$20/hr. reported ~$16–$20/hr depending on region and care level (2026, third-party figure; state sets the range).
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 Maryland caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Maryland?
No waitlist reported. CFC and CPAS are entitlements — no waitlist; Community Options Waiver has a large registry (~20,616 people as of early 2026, ~700 invited/month). Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Maryland pays family instead of an agency
1.1 million people in Maryland — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, across 24 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 Maryland
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Maryland program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Maryland 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 Community First Choice (CFC) and CPAS 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: Call the CFC program (410-767-1739) or MAP (844-627-5465) / visit a local MAP office to start eligibility screening; processing takes up to ~3 months.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Maryland caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Maryland called?
In Maryland, family caregivers are paid through Community First Choice (CFC), CPAS, Community Options Waiver, DDA Waivers (children). Maryland has no CDPAP by name. Its equivalents are Community First Choice and Community Personal Assistance Services, both of which allow a participant to hire a relative.
Does Maryland have CDPAP or IHSS?
Maryland has no CDPAP by name. Its equivalents are Community First Choice and Community Personal Assistance Services, both of which allow a participant to hire a relative.
How much does Maryland pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $16–$20/hr. reported ~$16–$20/hr depending on region and care level (2026, third-party figure; state sets the range).
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Maryland?
limited — COMAR 10.09.84 bars only the participant's representative from being the paid worker, but an older state memo also barred spouses; confirm with the CFC/CPAS supports planner
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Maryland?
limited — not via CFC (guardian/representative bar); DDA Community Pathways Waiver pays legally responsible parents up to 40 hrs/wk, and the Autism Waiver reimburses extraordinary care
Is there a waitlist for the Maryland caregiver program?
CFC and CPAS are entitlements — no waitlist; Community Options Waiver has a large registry (~20,616 people as of early 2026, ~700 invited/month)
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Maryland?
Call the CFC program (410-767-1739) or MAP (844-627-5465) / visit a local MAP office to start eligibility screening; processing takes up to ~3 months.
Who runs the Maryland Medicaid caregiver program?
Maryland Dept. of Health — Office of Long Term Services and Supports, CFC 410-767-1739; Maryland Access Point (MAP) 844-627-5465.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · health.maryland.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Maryland caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Maryland — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Maryland
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.