The Oregon caregiver program
Oregon pays family members to care for a relative at home through Consumer-Employed Provider program and Independent Choices. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Oregon at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $21.25–$25.25/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Oregon?
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
Oregon programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Oregon it runs through:
- Independent Choices Program (ICP)
- Spousal Pay Program
- Consumer-Employed Provider program
How it works: fully self-directed — participant is the employer; fiscal-agency help optional under ICP; Spousal Pay caregivers need an OHCC provider number. The programs are administered by Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) — 800-282-8096; ADRC 1-855-673-2372.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Oregon?
Oregon's version is the Consumer-Employed Provider program — homecare workers hired directly by the person receiving care — plus the Independent Choices Program, which gives the member a cash budget.
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 Oregon pays family caregivers
$21.25–$25.25/hr
Source: Oregon Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Oregon
- 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 ICP and the dedicated Spousal Pay Program (spouse must enroll as a provider with the Oregon Home Care Commission)
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- limited — parents of minors historically excluded; new Children's Extraordinary Needs Waiver (2024) pays parents up to 20 hrs/wk but capped at 155 families (230 from 7/1/2026)
How much does Oregon pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Oregon is around $21.25–$25.25/hr. homecare worker wage scale $21.25–$25.25/hr in 2026, rising to $23.00–$27.00 in January 2027 (OHCC 2025–27 contract); under ICP the participant sets the wage, at least minimum wage.
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 Oregon caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Oregon?
Depends on the program. ICP: not an entitlement — waitlist can form when slots fill; Spousal Pay Program is an entitlement with no waitlist. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Oregon pays family instead of an agency
850,800 people in Oregon — 20% of the state — are 65 or older, across 36 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 Oregon
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Oregon program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Oregon 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 Consumer-Employed Provider program and Independent Choices 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: Contact the local Area Agency on Aging / APD office or call ODHS at 800-282-8096 (ADRC 1-855-673-2372) to request an assessment and ask for Independent Choices or Spousal Pay.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Oregon caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Oregon called?
In Oregon, family caregivers are paid through Independent Choices Program (ICP), Spousal Pay Program, Consumer-Employed Provider program. Oregon's version is the Consumer-Employed Provider program — homecare workers hired directly by the person receiving care — plus the Independent Choices Program, which gives the member a cash budget.
Does Oregon have CDPAP or IHSS?
Oregon's version is the Consumer-Employed Provider program — homecare workers hired directly by the person receiving care — plus the Independent Choices Program, which gives the member a cash budget.
How much does Oregon pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $21.25–$25.25/hr. homecare worker wage scale $21.25–$25.25/hr in 2026, rising to $23.00–$27.00 in January 2027 (OHCC 2025–27 contract); under ICP the participant sets the wage, at least minimum wage.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Oregon?
yes — spouses can be hired under ICP and the dedicated Spousal Pay Program (spouse must enroll as a provider with the Oregon Home Care Commission)
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Oregon?
limited — parents of minors historically excluded; new Children's Extraordinary Needs Waiver (2024) pays parents up to 20 hrs/wk but capped at 155 families (230 from 7/1/2026)
Is there a waitlist for the Oregon caregiver program?
ICP: not an entitlement — waitlist can form when slots fill; Spousal Pay Program is an entitlement with no waitlist
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Oregon?
Contact the local Area Agency on Aging / APD office or call ODHS at 800-282-8096 (ADRC 1-855-673-2372) to request an assessment and ask for Independent Choices or Spousal Pay.
Who runs the Oregon Medicaid caregiver program?
Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) — 800-282-8096; ADRC 1-855-673-2372.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · oregon.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Oregon caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Oregon — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Oregon
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.