The Minnesota caregiver program
Minnesota pays family members to care for a relative at home through CFSS. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Minnesota at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $22.74/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Minnesota?
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
Minnesota programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Minnesota it runs through:
- CFSS
- CDCS
- Elderly Waiver
How it works: fiscal support: CFSS offers an agency-provider model or a self-directed budget model with a Financial Management Services (FMS) provider; CDCS requires an FMS provider for payroll/taxes. The programs are administered by Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS); county long-term care consultation teams; Senior LinkAge Line 800-333-2433.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Minnesota?
Minnesota has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Minnesota equivalent runs through CFSS, CDCS, Elderly Waiver, 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 Minnesota pays family caregivers
$22.74/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Minnesota Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Minnesota
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Yes
- yes — since 10/1/2024 spouses can be paid CFSS/PCA workers (per MN DHS bulletin); spouses also hirable under CDCS
- Parent of a minor child Yes
- yes — since 10/1/2024 parents of minors can be paid CFSS workers (per MN DHS bulletin)
How much does Minnesota pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Minnesota is around $22.74/hr. paid-spouse/paid-parent-of-minor CFSS maximum rate ~$22.74/hr (~2025); CDCS wages set by participant within an individual budget.
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 Minnesota caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Minnesota?
Depends on the program. CFSS is a state-plan entitlement — no waitlist; Elderly Waiver capped (~40,083/yr) — waitlist can form. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Minnesota pays family instead of an agency
1.1 million people in Minnesota — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, across 87 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 Minnesota
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Minnesota program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Minnesota 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 CFSS 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: Start with a MnCHOICES/long-term care consultation assessment through your county (or call the Senior LinkAge Line); also apply for Medical Assistance (MA-LTC application).
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Minnesota caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Minnesota called?
In Minnesota, family caregivers are paid through CFSS, CDCS, Elderly Waiver. Minnesota has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Minnesota equivalent runs through CFSS, CDCS, Elderly Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Minnesota have CDPAP or IHSS?
Minnesota has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Minnesota equivalent runs through CFSS, CDCS, Elderly Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Minnesota pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $22.74/hr. paid-spouse/paid-parent-of-minor CFSS maximum rate ~$22.74/hr (~2025); CDCS wages set by participant within an individual budget.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Minnesota?
yes — since 10/1/2024 spouses can be paid CFSS/PCA workers (per MN DHS bulletin); spouses also hirable under CDCS
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Minnesota?
yes — since 10/1/2024 parents of minors can be paid CFSS workers (per MN DHS bulletin)
Is there a waitlist for the Minnesota caregiver program?
CFSS is a state-plan entitlement — no waitlist; Elderly Waiver capped (~40,083/yr) — waitlist can form
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Minnesota?
Start with a MnCHOICES/long-term care consultation assessment through your county (or call the Senior LinkAge Line); also apply for Medical Assistance (MA-LTC application).
Who runs the Minnesota Medicaid caregiver program?
Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS); county long-term care consultation teams; Senior LinkAge Line 800-333-2433.
Sources: mn.gov · content.govdelivery.com · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Minnesota caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Minnesota — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Minnesota
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.