What family caregivers are paid in Pennsylvania
Around $13–$19/hr. Your pay is not a posted wage — it comes out of a care budget Pennsylvania sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers on the same street can be paid differently.
Pennsylvania at a glance
- Reported pay
- $13–$19/hr
- Programs
- 3
- Spouse pay
- No
- Waitlist
- Possible
set inside the care plan
that can pay a relative
full rule on the spouse page
apply early either way
- 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 Pennsylvania pays family caregivers
$13–$19/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Pennsylvania Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
self-directed with a mandatory fiscal intermediary — Tempus Unlimited is the statewide FMS for CHC/Services My Way
- Spouse can be paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- There may be a waitlist — apply early.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Pennsylvania it runs through Community HealthChoices (CHC), Services My Way, OBRA Waiver, administered by PA Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) — CHC Participant Hotline 1-833-735-4416
2.7 million people in Pennsylvania — 20% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 67 counties. The programs on this page exist because caring for them at home costs the state far less than a nursing home does.
From first call to first paycheck
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions tell you which Pennsylvania program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Pennsylvania confirms your relative qualifies and how much help they need. The hours in that assessment become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enrol and hire
Your relative enrols, then names you as their caregiver. Background check, paperwork, done.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
How to start in Pennsylvania: Call the PA Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227 (or its online Community Referral Form) to start CHC eligibility; then choose participant-direction/Services My Way with your MCO service coordinator.
Pennsylvania pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Pennsylvania?
Figures reported for Pennsylvania land around $13–$19/hr, but that is a range, not a promise. Your rate is set inside your relative's care plan and budget. We tell you your real number before you enroll.
What decides my exact hourly rate?
Three things: how much help your relative is assessed as needing, which Pennsylvania program they are on, and who administers the payroll. self-directed with a mandatory fiscal intermediary — Tempus Unlimited is the statewide FMS for CHC/Services My Way
How many hours a week can I be paid for?
Hours come from the care assessment, not from how many you actually work. That is the single biggest thing families get wrong — an honest assessment is worth more than any negotiation later. We help you prepare for it.
Is family caregiver pay taxable?
Usually yes — it is normally treated as wages, with taxes withheld. One exception is worth asking about: the IRS difficulty-of-care rule can make some payments tax-free when the caregiver lives with the person receiving care.
Can I be paid to care for my spouse in Pennsylvania?
no — spouses and legal guardians cannot be paid; other relatives incl. adult children and parents of adult (21+) disabled children can There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Pennsylvania.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Pennsylvania?
no for CHC (serves adults 21+); PA generally does not pay parents of minor children
Is there a waitlist in Pennsylvania?
limited enrollment slots (~181,848/yr); waitlist can form when full
How do I apply in Pennsylvania?
Call the PA Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227 (or its online Community Referral Form) to start CHC eligibility; then choose participant-direction/Services My Way with your MCO service coordinator.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Pennsylvania →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · pa.tempusunlimited.org · pa.tempusunlimited.org · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Pennsylvania families
Start with the Pennsylvania caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Pennsylvania caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Pennsylvania — pick yours for the local picture.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.