The Montana caregiver program
Montana pays family members to care for a relative at home through Big Sky Waiver (self-directed). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Montana at a glance
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- Varies
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Montana?
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
Montana programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Montana it runs through:
- Big Sky Waiver (self-directed)
- Community First Choice & PCS
How it works: hybrid — member hires/fires the caregiver but a financial management services / provider agency handles payroll, taxes, background checks; agency-based model also available. The programs are administered by Montana DPHHS, Senior & Long Term Care Division (406-444-4077); Public Assistance Helpline 888-706-1535.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Montana?
Montana has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Montana equivalent runs through Big Sky Waiver (self-directed), Community First Choice & PCS, 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 Montana 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: Montana Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Montana
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- limited — yes under Big Sky Waiver self-directed option; prohibited under CFCS/PCS (spouses and parents of minors excluded there)
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- limited — under the Big Sky Waiver a parent of a minor can be paid only for extraordinary care, up to 40 hours a week; CFCS/PCS excludes parents of minors
How much does Montana pay a family caregiver?
Montana does not publish one flat rate. not published on fetched pages.
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 Montana caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Montana?
Depends on the program. BSW: yes, limited slots (~2,800/yr, waitlist forms when full); CFCS/PCS: entitlement, no waitlist. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Montana pays family instead of an agency
239,400 people in Montana — 21% of the state — are 65 or older, across 56 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 Montana
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Montana program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Montana 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 Big Sky Waiver (self-directed) 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: Apply for Montana Medicaid at apply.mt.gov or a local Office of Public Assistance (helpline 888-706-1535); Mountain Pacific Quality Health does the functional assessment (800-219-7035).
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Montana caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Montana called?
In Montana, family caregivers are paid through Big Sky Waiver (self-directed), Community First Choice & PCS. Montana has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Montana equivalent runs through Big Sky Waiver (self-directed), Community First Choice & PCS, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Montana have CDPAP or IHSS?
Montana has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Montana equivalent runs through Big Sky Waiver (self-directed), Community First Choice & PCS, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Montana pay a family caregiver?
Montana does not publish one flat rate. not published on fetched pages.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Montana?
limited — yes under Big Sky Waiver self-directed option; prohibited under CFCS/PCS (spouses and parents of minors excluded there)
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Montana?
limited — under the Big Sky Waiver a parent of a minor can be paid only for extraordinary care, up to 40 hours a week; CFCS/PCS excludes parents of minors
Is there a waitlist for the Montana caregiver program?
BSW: yes, limited slots (~2,800/yr, waitlist forms when full); CFCS/PCS: entitlement, no waitlist
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Montana?
Apply for Montana Medicaid at apply.mt.gov or a local Office of Public Assistance (helpline 888-706-1535); Mountain Pacific Quality Health does the functional assessment (800-219-7035).
Who runs the Montana Medicaid caregiver program?
Montana DPHHS, Senior & Long Term Care Division (406-444-4077); Public Assistance Helpline 888-706-1535.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · dphhs.mt.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Montana caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Montana — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Montana
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.