How much do family caregivers get paid in Pennsylvania?
Around $13–$19/hr — and here is what moves that number.
Your pay is not a posted wage. It comes out of a care budget that Pennsylvania sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers in the same town can be paid differently.
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.
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.