Michigan · state plan
Home Help Program in Michigan
Michigan's Home Help Program is a Medicaid personal care benefit run by county MDHHS adult services workers. The client chooses and directs their own caregiver, and an individual caregiver who enrolls in CHAMPS and passes a criminal history screen is paid by MDHHS. Adult children, siblings and other relatives 18 or older can be paid, but a spouse or the parent of a minor child cannot.
Also called: Home Help · MDHHS Home Help · Michigan Home Help Program · Home Help individual caregiver · Adult Services Home Help
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- $17.13/hr (individual caregiver, from 1/1/2026)
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- Not right now
- Parent of a minor child
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- none
Who qualifies for Home Help Program
- Has Medicaid (not just Medicare); people with a deductible may use the Personal Care Option.
- Needs hands-on help with at least one activity of daily living, such as eating, toileting, bathing, grooming, dressing, transferring or mobility.
- A Medicaid-enrolled medical professional (physician, PA, nurse practitioner, OT or PT) signs the Medical Needs Form (DHS-54A).
- Lives at home, not in a hospital, nursing facility, licensed foster care or similar institution.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- the client chooses the caregiver, and adult relatives 18 or older who meet the minimum criteria can be paid.
- Spouse Not right now
- MDHHS policy (ASM 135) says do not pay Home Help to a responsible relative, which includes a spouse caring for a spouse, even if separated.
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- a parent caring for a minor child is a responsible relative and cannot be paid; MDHHS says a parent can become the paid caregiver once the child turns 18.
- Living together
- the caregiver can live with the client or not; some tasks may be prorated when the client shares a home with other adults.
Who employs the caregiver: Either. The client can hire an individual caregiver (paid directly by MDHHS after CHAMPS enrollment) or use a Home Help agency provider.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Michigan.
How much Home Help Program pays
$17.13/hr (individual caregiver, from 1/1/2026). MDHHS bulletin ASB 2026-002 sets the Home Help individual caregiver rate at $13.73 plus a $3.40 pass-through, totaling $17.13/hour, effective January 1, 2026 (up from about $15.88–$15.92 in late 2024). The agency provider rate stays at $27.00/hour ($23.60 plus $3.40). MDHHS pays individual caregivers directly.
Hours and budget: The adult services worker does an in-home assessment and sets hours by ranking the client's need for each activity. There is no maximum number of hours; high-need cases get added review.
Compare with other Michigan programs on the Michigan caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
Home Help is a Medicaid state plan benefit, so there is no waiting list for eligible clients.
How to apply for Home Help Program
- Apply for Medicaid if needed at michigan.gov/mibridges or through your local MDHHS office.
- Make a Home Help referral to your county MDHHS office (anyone can refer) and return the Adult Services Application (DHS-390).
- Have a Medicaid-approved medical professional complete the Medical Needs Form (DHS-54A).
- An adult services worker visits your home to assess needs; the caregiver attends, enrolls in CHAMPS and passes the criminal history screen before any payment.
- Your county MDHHS office (Adult Services) · not published centrally — call your county MDHHS office · official site
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Home Help Program questions
How much does Michigan Home Help pay family caregivers in 2026?
Individual caregivers are paid $17.13 an hour starting January 1, 2026 ($13.73 plus a $3.40 pass-through), per MDHHS bulletin ASB 2026-002.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Michigan through Home Help?
No. Home Help does not pay a responsible relative, which includes a spouse caring for a spouse, even if the couple is separated.
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child?
Not while the child is a minor. MDHHS says parents cannot be the paid caregiver for their minor children, but can be once the child turns 18.
Is there a limit on Home Help hours?
There is no set maximum. Your adult services worker decides your hours based on the in-home assessment.
What does a caregiver need to get paid?
Be 18 or older, enroll in CHAMPS, pass a criminal history screen, meet MDHHS's minimum criteria, and log services as required. MDHHS will not pay if the client's Medicaid is inactive.
Can I use an agency instead of a family member?
Yes. You can choose a Home Help agency provider; agencies are paid $27.00 an hour.
Sources: mdhhs-pres-prod.michigan.gov · mdhhs-pres-prod.michigan.gov · mdhhs-pres-prod.michigan.gov · michigan.gov · hcaoa.org · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Other Michigan programs
Where most Michigan caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Michigan — pick yours for the local picture.