How much do family caregivers get paid in Mississippi?
Mississippi doesn't publish one flat rate — and we won't invent one.
Your pay comes out of a care budget that Mississippi sets from your relative's assessed needs. Any site quoting you a single Mississippi hourly figure is guessing. We get you the real number before you enroll.
What Mississippi pays family caregivers
Rates vary — check with the program.
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Mississippi Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
E&D: agency-delivered only — family cannot be hired; IL Waiver: participant-directed — friends and some relatives (e.g., adult children NOT living with the participant) can be hired
- Spouse can be paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- There may be a waitlist — apply early.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Mississippi it runs through Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only), Independent Living Waiver, administered by Mississippi Division of Medicaid, Office of Long Term Care, 800-421-2408; MAC Center 844-822-4622; IL Waiver operated by MS Dept. of Rehabilitation Services, 800-443-1000
528,800 people in Mississippi — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 82 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 Mississippi program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Mississippi 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 Mississippi: Contact your regional Mississippi Division of Medicaid office or the MAC Center (844-822-4622) to request a waiver assessment; for the IL Waiver contact MS Dept. of Rehabilitation Services.
Mississippi pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Mississippi?
Mississippi does not publish a single rate. Pay is set from your relative's assessed needs and the program's budget. Anyone quoting you one flat Mississippi number is guessing — we get you the real one before you enroll.
What decides my exact hourly rate?
Three things: how much help your relative is assessed as needing, which Mississippi program they are on, and who administers the payroll. E&D: agency-delivered only — family cannot be hired; IL Waiver: participant-directed — friends and some relatives (e.g., adult children NOT living with the participant) can be hired
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 Mississippi?
no — spouses excluded; E&D Waiver has no consumer direction at all There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Mississippi.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Mississippi?
no — current waiver language bars payment to parents/guardians/legally responsible individuals (pandemic-era flexibility removed)
Is there a waitlist in Mississippi?
both are capped waivers with waitlists — E&D ~22,200 slots/yr, IL ~5,800 slots/yr, slots awarded by application date
How do I apply in Mississippi?
Contact your regional Mississippi Division of Medicaid office or the MAC Center (844-822-4622) to request a waiver assessment; for the IL Waiver contact MS Dept. of Rehabilitation Services.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Mississippi →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaid.ms.gov · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Mississippi caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Mississippi — 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.