The Ohio caregiver program
Ohio pays family members to care for a relative at home through PASSPORT and Structured Family Caregiving. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Ohio at a glance
- Programs
- 4
- Reported pay
- $1,500–$3,000/month
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Ohio?
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
Ohio programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Ohio it runs through:
- PASSPORT Waiver
- Structured Family Caregiving
- Next Generation MyCare
- Ohio Home Care Waiver
How it works: 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. The programs are administered by Ohio Department of Aging (PASSPORT Helpline 1-866-243-5678); Ohio Department of Medicaid (Consumer Hotline 1-800-324-8680); Ohio Benefits Helpline 1-844-640-6446.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Ohio?
Ohio's main paths are the PASSPORT Waiver's self-directed option and Structured Family Caregiving for a caregiver who lives with the member.
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 Ohio pays family caregivers
$1,500–$3,000/month
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
Who can be paid in Ohio
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Yes
- yes — spouses can be hired under PASSPORT's participant-directed options, Next Generation MyCare, and as the live-in Structured Family Caregiving caregiver
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- 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 does Ohio pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Ohio is around $1,500–$3,000/month. no state-published rates on pages reviewed; C-HCAS lets the participant set the hourly rate within a budget, CD-PCS uses a state-set rate, and SFC pays a tiered daily stipend third-party-reported at ~$1,500-$3,000/month.
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 Ohio caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Ohio?
Depends on the program. PASSPORT is capped (~39,807/yr) and a waitlist can form; Next Generation MyCare has no cap and no waitlist. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Ohio pays family instead of an agency
2.3 million people in Ohio — 19% of the state — are 65 or older, across 88 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 Ohio
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Ohio program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Ohio 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 PASSPORT and Structured Family Caregiving 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 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).
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Ohio caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Ohio called?
In Ohio, family caregivers are paid through PASSPORT Waiver, Structured Family Caregiving, Next Generation MyCare, Ohio Home Care Waiver. Ohio's main paths are the PASSPORT Waiver's self-directed option and Structured Family Caregiving for a caregiver who lives with the member.
Does Ohio have CDPAP or IHSS?
Ohio's main paths are the PASSPORT Waiver's self-directed option and Structured Family Caregiving for a caregiver who lives with the member.
How much does Ohio pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $1,500–$3,000/month. no state-published rates on pages reviewed; C-HCAS lets the participant set the hourly rate within a budget, CD-PCS uses a state-set rate, and SFC pays a tiered daily stipend third-party-reported at ~$1,500-$3,000/month.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Ohio?
yes — spouses can be hired under PASSPORT's participant-directed options, Next Generation MyCare, and as the live-in Structured Family Caregiving caregiver
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Ohio?
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
Is there a waitlist for the Ohio caregiver program?
PASSPORT is capped (~39,807/yr) and a waitlist can form; Next Generation MyCare has no cap and no waitlist
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Ohio?
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).
Who runs the Ohio Medicaid caregiver program?
Ohio Department of Aging (PASSPORT Helpline 1-866-243-5678); Ohio Department of Medicaid (Consumer Hotline 1-800-324-8680); Ohio Benefits Helpline 1-844-640-6446.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · kidswaivers.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Ohio caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Ohio — pick yours for the local picture.
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.