Can a spouse be paid?
YesYes — Ohio can pay you to care for your spouse.
The fine print: yes — spouses can be hired under PASSPORT's participant-directed options, Next Generation MyCare, and as the live-in Structured Family Caregiving caregiver
Free toolSee what Ohio pays →
Get paid as a family caregiver in Ohio
Ohio runs real Medicaid programs that pay family members to care for a loved one at home. Here is what they pay, who can be paid, and how to start.
Ohio at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 2.3 million
- Counties
- 88
- Programs
- 4
- Spouse pay
- Yes
19% of the state
each with its own page
that can pay a relative
see the full rule below
- 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
What Ohio pays family caregivers
$1,500–$3,000/month
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: Ohio Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Waitlist in Ohio
Some programs here have no waitlist. Others can have one.
PASSPORT is capped (~39,807/yr) and a waitlist can form; Next Generation MyCare has no cap and no waitlist
The two big questions
Can a parent be paid for a child?
SometimesSometimes — special programs for children may pay parents.
The fine print: limited — Ohio Home Care Waiver and the three DD waivers pay parents/guardians of minors, but the parent must work for an agency, be the provider of last resort, and generally work 40 hrs or less; RN/LPN parents can provide paid nursing; litigation pending over these rules
Ohio's programs
Run by: Ohio Department of Aging (PASSPORT Helpline 1-866-243-5678)
PASSPORT Waiver
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →Structured Family Caregiving
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →Next Generation MyCare
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →Ohio Home Care Waiver
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →How to apply in Ohio
Check your match — 2 minutes, free.
Our quick check tells you which programs fit your family before you talk to anyone.
Start the state application.
Apply for Ohio Medicaid via the Ohio Benefits portal or county Job and Family Services and answer yes to the waiver/long-term-care question; for PASSPORT call the PASSPORT Helpline (Area Agency on Aging screening).
We help at every step.
Forms, phone calls, the enrollment visit — we walk you through it all, free.
Ohio questions, answered honestly
Is this legit?
Yes. These are real Medicaid programs run by the state. In Ohio, they are overseen by the Ohio Department of Aging (PASSPORT Helpline 1-866-243-5678). We help you enroll — applying costs you nothing.
Why would the government pay me?
Care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So states pay family members to give that care at home. It's good for your loved one, and it's the law working the way it should.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Ohio?
Yes — Ohio can pay you to care for your spouse. The fine print: yes — spouses can be hired under PASSPORT's participant-directed options, Next Generation MyCare, and as the live-in Structured Family Caregiving caregiver
Can I get paid to care for my child in Ohio?
Sometimes — special programs for children may pay parents. The fine print: limited — Ohio Home Care Waiver and the three DD waivers pay parents/guardians of minors, but the parent must work for an agency, be the provider of last resort, and generally work 40 hrs or less; RN/LPN parents can provide paid nursing; litigation pending over these rules
How much do family caregivers get paid in Ohio?
Reported figures are around $1,500–$3,000/month, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Is there a waitlist?
Some programs here have no waitlist. Others can have one. Details: PASSPORT is capped (~39,807/yr) and a waitlist can form; Next Generation MyCare has no cap and no waitlist
Do I have to work for an agency?
It depends on the program. In Ohio: participant-directed options use a financial management services agency for payroll/taxes; SFC runs through an SFC agency; parents of minors on the Home Care Waiver must be agency-employed
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · kidswaivers.org · Updated September 2026. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Browse Ohio by county
The programs are the same across Ohio. Pick your county to see how they work where you live.
- Franklin
- Cuyahoga
- Hamilton
- Summit
- Montgomery
- Lucas
- Butler
- Stark
- Lorain
- Warren
- Delaware
- Lake
- Mahoning
- Clermont
- Trumbull
- Licking
- Medina
- Greene
- Fairfield
- Portage
- Clark
- Wood
- Richland
- Wayne
- Miami
- Allen
- Columbiana
- Ashtabula
- Geauga
- Tuscarawas
- Muskingum
- Ross
- Hancock
- Erie
- Scioto
- Union
- Marion
- Belmont
- Jefferson
- Knox
- Athens
- Pickaway
- Sandusky
- Washington
- Huron
- Lawrence
- Seneca
- Ashland
- Darke
- Shelby
- Logan
- Auglaize
- Madison
- Holmes
- Brown
- Highland
- Mercer
- Fulton
- Clinton
- Crawford
- Preble
- Ottawa
- Champaign
- Defiance
- Guernsey
- Coshocton
- Williams
- Morrow
- Perry
- Putnam
- Jackson
- Hardin
- Van Wert
- Gallia
- Fayette
- Adams
- Henry
- Hocking
- Pike
- Carroll
- Meigs
- Wyandot
- Paulding
- Noble
- Harrison
- Morgan
- Monroe
- Vinton
Guides
For Ohio families
Start with the Ohio caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Across the line
States that border Ohio
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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.