The South Carolina caregiver program
South Carolina pays family members to care for a relative at home through Community Choices Waiver (self-directed). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
South Carolina at a glance
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- Varies
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in South Carolina?
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
South Carolina programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In South Carolina it runs through:
- Community Choices Waiver (self-directed)
- Medically Complex Children Waiver
How it works: self-directed with a required financial management services agency handling payroll/taxes (FMS vendor name not confirmed). The programs are administered by South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), Community Long Term Care (CLTC) — Healthy Connections 888-549-0820.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in South Carolina?
South Carolina has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The South Carolina equivalent runs through Community Choices Waiver (self-directed), Medically Complex Children Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
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 South Carolina pays family caregivers
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: South Carolina Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in South Carolina
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- limited — spouses cannot provide companion care but may provide attendant care services; legal guardians excluded
- Parent of a minor child Yes
- yes for minors via the separate MCC Waiver — parents/relatives/guardians paid hourly for children's attendant care (ages 1-21, max 40 hrs/wk per caregiver, from 7/1/2025); Community Choices itself serves adults 18+
How much does South Carolina pay a family caregiver?
South Carolina does not publish one flat rate. not published — depends on participant budget and negotiated rate.
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 South Carolina caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in South Carolina?
Depends on the program. not an entitlement — limited slots (~25,401/yr) and a waitlist forms when full. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why South Carolina pays family instead of an agency
1.1 million people in South Carolina — 20% of the state — are 65 or older, across 46 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 South Carolina
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which South Carolina program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
South Carolina 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 Community Choices Waiver (self-directed) 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 regional Community Long Term Care (CLTC) office or Healthy Connections at 888-549-0820 and file the Application for Nursing Home, Residential or In-Home Care; MCC families request self-direction through their Waiver Nurse Case Manager.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
South Carolina caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in South Carolina called?
In South Carolina, family caregivers are paid through Community Choices Waiver (self-directed), Medically Complex Children Waiver. South Carolina has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The South Carolina equivalent runs through Community Choices Waiver (self-directed), Medically Complex Children Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does South Carolina have CDPAP or IHSS?
South Carolina has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The South Carolina equivalent runs through Community Choices Waiver (self-directed), Medically Complex Children Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does South Carolina pay a family caregiver?
South Carolina does not publish one flat rate. not published — depends on participant budget and negotiated rate.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in South Carolina?
limited — spouses cannot provide companion care but may provide attendant care services; legal guardians excluded
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in South Carolina?
yes for minors via the separate MCC Waiver — parents/relatives/guardians paid hourly for children's attendant care (ages 1-21, max 40 hrs/wk per caregiver, from 7/1/2025); Community Choices itself serves adults 18+
Is there a waitlist for the South Carolina caregiver program?
not an entitlement — limited slots (~25,401/yr) and a waitlist forms when full
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in South Carolina?
Contact the regional Community Long Term Care (CLTC) office or Healthy Connections at 888-549-0820 and file the Application for Nursing Home, Residential or In-Home Care; MCC families request self-direction through their Waiver Nurse Case Manager.
Who runs the South Carolina Medicaid caregiver program?
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), Community Long Term Care (CLTC) — Healthy Connections 888-549-0820.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · scdhhs.gov · scdhhs.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most South Carolina caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in South Carolina — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border South Carolina
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.