The Mississippi caregiver program
Mississippi pays family members to care for a relative at home through Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Mississippi at a glance
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- Varies
- Spouse paid?
- No
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Mississippi?
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
Mississippi programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Mississippi it runs through:
- Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only)
- Independent Living Waiver
How it works: 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. The programs are 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.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Mississippi?
Mississippi has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Mississippi equivalent runs through Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only), Independent Living 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 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
Who can be paid in Mississippi
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Sometimes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Not right now
- no — spouses excluded; E&D Waiver has no consumer direction at all
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- no — current waiver language bars payment to parents/guardians/legally responsible individuals (pandemic-era flexibility removed)
How much does Mississippi pay a family caregiver?
Mississippi does not publish one flat rate. no published family-caregiver pay rate.
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 Mississippi caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Mississippi?
Waitlist possible. both are capped waivers with waitlists — E&D ~22,200 slots/yr, IL ~5,800 slots/yr, slots awarded by application date. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Mississippi pays family instead of an agency
528,800 people in Mississippi — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, across 82 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 Mississippi
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Mississippi program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Mississippi 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 Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only) 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: 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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Mississippi caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Mississippi called?
In Mississippi, family caregivers are paid through Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only), Independent Living Waiver. Mississippi has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Mississippi equivalent runs through Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only), Independent Living Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Mississippi have CDPAP or IHSS?
Mississippi has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Mississippi equivalent runs through Elderly & Disabled Waiver (agency only), Independent Living Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Mississippi pay a family caregiver?
Mississippi does not publish one flat rate. no published family-caregiver pay rate.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Mississippi?
no — spouses excluded; E&D Waiver has no consumer direction at all
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Mississippi?
no — current waiver language bars payment to parents/guardians/legally responsible individuals (pandemic-era flexibility removed)
Is there a waitlist for the Mississippi caregiver program?
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 to be a paid caregiver 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.
Who runs the Mississippi Medicaid caregiver program?
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.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaid.ms.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules 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.
Across the line
States that border Mississippi
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.