Can I get paid to care for my spouse in New Hampshire?
Yes — New Hampshire lets a spouse be paid.
New Hampshire is one of the states where the person who needs care can hire their own husband or wife and have the program pay for it. You do the caring you are already doing. The state pays you for it.
What has to be true
- Your spouse lives in New Hampshire and needs long-term care help at home.
- Your spouse has Medicaid, or can qualify. We check that with you for free.
- You pass a background check. No license or certificate is needed.
- The care your spouse needs is written into their plan — that is what the hours are paid against.
What New Hampshire pays family caregivers
$15–$22/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: New Hampshire Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What New Hampshire's rule actually says
yes — CFI participant-directed and PCAS both allow hiring a spouse (PCAS: caregiver may not be the participant's durable power of attorney)
The programs this runs through in New Hampshire: Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver, PCAS, In-Home Supports Waiver (children). Who runs them: NH DHHS Bureau of Adult and Aging Services (ADRC/ServiceLink 866-634-9412; DHHS Customer Services 844-275-3447); Granite State Independent Living runs PCAS intake (800-826-3700)
303,300 people in New Hampshire are 65 or older. Most of them are cared for at home, by a relative — usually without being paid for it.
How to start in New Hampshire
Apply via NH Easy online or a district DHHS office; ServiceLink/ADRC (866-634-9412) assists with CFI; for PCAS enroll in NH Medicaid then submit a Request for Services to Granite State Independent Living.
hybrid — participant hires/manages the caregiver but a financial management services agency handles payroll, taxes, background checks
See if you qualify →Spouse questions in New Hampshire, answered
Can I get paid to care for my husband or wife in New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire allows it. The published rule: yes — CFI participant-directed and PCAS both allow hiring a spouse (PCAS: caregiver may not be the participant's durable power of attorney)
Why do some states allow this and others don't?
Medicaid has long treated care between spouses as a family duty rather than paid work. Self-directed programs changed that in many states by making the person who needs care the employer — they choose their own worker, and in some states that can be a spouse. It is a state-by-state policy choice, not a federal rule.
How much would I earn in New Hampshire?
Reported pay in New Hampshire runs around $15–$22/hr, though your exact rate is set by the program and the care plan.
Does my spouse need Medicaid first?
Yes. These are Medicaid programs, so your spouse has to qualify for New Hampshire Medicaid and need long-term care help. Many families assume they earn too much and never apply. The rules for long-term care are not the same as regular Medicaid — check before you rule yourself out.
Is there a waitlist in New Hampshire?
CFI: not an entitlement (~5,951 cap/yr), waitlist exists; PCAS: entitlement, no waitlist
How do we start?
Apply via NH Easy online or a district DHHS office; ServiceLink/ADRC (866-634-9412) assists with CFI; for PCAS enroll in NH Medicaid then submit a Request for Services to Granite State Independent Living.
Sources: dhhs.nh.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most New Hampshire caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in New Hampshire — pick yours for the local picture.
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