The Nebraska caregiver program
Nebraska pays family members to care for a relative at home through Personal Assistance Services (PAS). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Nebraska at a glance
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- $15/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Long
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Nebraska?
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
Nebraska programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Nebraska it runs through:
- Personal Assistance Services (PAS)
- Aged & Disabled Waiver
How it works: no agency required — family member enrolls as a Medicaid independent provider, paid directly by DHHS; EVV via smartphone required; agency option also exists. The programs are administered by Nebraska DHHS (main 402-471-3121; AD Waiver 877-667-6266).
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Nebraska?
Nebraska has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Nebraska equivalent runs through Personal Assistance Services (PAS), Aged & Disabled 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 Nebraska pays family caregivers
$15/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Nebraska Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Nebraska
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- limited — under the Aged & Disabled Waiver a spouse can be paid through the separate LRI Personal Care service only when care is extraordinary, agency-based, capped at 40 hours a week
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- limited — parents of minors can be paid through LRI Personal Care under the same extraordinary-care test and 40-hour weekly cap
How much does Nebraska pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Nebraska is around $15/hr. PAS fee schedule ~$3.75/15 min = ~$15.00/hr for independent providers.
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 Nebraska caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Nebraska?
Waitlists can be long. PAS: entitlement, never a waitlist; AD Waiver: capped (~10,000/yr), waitlist possible with priority for health/safety risk. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Nebraska pays family instead of an agency
349,400 people in Nebraska — 17% of the state — are 65 or older, across 93 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 Nebraska
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Nebraska program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Nebraska 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 Personal Assistance Services (PAS) 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 online via iServe Nebraska or at a local DHHS office; for the AD Waiver call 877-667-6266 to request materials.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Nebraska caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Nebraska called?
In Nebraska, family caregivers are paid through Personal Assistance Services (PAS), Aged & Disabled Waiver. Nebraska has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Nebraska equivalent runs through Personal Assistance Services (PAS), Aged & Disabled Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Nebraska have CDPAP or IHSS?
Nebraska has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Nebraska equivalent runs through Personal Assistance Services (PAS), Aged & Disabled Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Nebraska pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $15/hr. PAS fee schedule ~$3.75/15 min = ~$15.00/hr for independent providers.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Nebraska?
limited — under the Aged & Disabled Waiver a spouse can be paid through the separate LRI Personal Care service only when care is extraordinary, agency-based, capped at 40 hours a week
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Nebraska?
limited — parents of minors can be paid through LRI Personal Care under the same extraordinary-care test and 40-hour weekly cap
Is there a waitlist for the Nebraska caregiver program?
PAS: entitlement, never a waitlist; AD Waiver: capped (~10,000/yr), waitlist possible with priority for health/safety risk
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Nebraska?
Apply online via iServe Nebraska or at a local DHHS office; for the AD Waiver call 877-667-6266 to request materials.
Who runs the Nebraska Medicaid caregiver program?
Nebraska DHHS (main 402-471-3121; AD Waiver 877-667-6266).
Sources: dhhs.ne.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Nebraska caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Nebraska — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Nebraska
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.