How much do family caregivers get paid in South Dakota?
Around $392/week — and here is what moves that number.
Your pay is not a posted wage. It comes out of a care budget that South Dakota sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers in the same town can be paid differently.
What South Dakota pays family caregivers
$392/week
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: South Dakota Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
yes — SFC is delivered through an approved SFC provider agency (e.g. Careforth) that pays the caregiver, though the caregiver is not an agency employee; live-in required
- Spouse can be paid?
- Yes
- 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 South Dakota it runs through Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver), administered by South Dakota Dept. of Human Services, Division of Long-Term Services & Supports (financial eligibility via Dept. of Social Services); Dakota at Home 833-663-9673
173,800 people in South Dakota — 19% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 66 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 South Dakota program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
South Dakota 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 South Dakota: Call Dakota at Home at 833-663-9673 or your local DSS office; financial eligibility goes through DSS and the LTSS functional assessment through DHS at the same time.
South Dakota pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in South Dakota?
Figures reported for South Dakota land around $392/week, 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 South Dakota program they are on, and who administers the payroll. yes — SFC is delivered through an approved SFC provider agency (e.g. Careforth) that pays the caregiver, though the caregiver is not an agency employee; live-in required
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?
In South Dakota, some of this pay is reported as tax-free under the IRS difficulty-of-care rules when the caregiver lives with the person receiving care. It depends on your household, so confirm with a tax preparer — but do ask, because many families overpay by not asking.
Can I be paid to care for my spouse in South Dakota?
yes — spouses may serve as the paid SFC caregiver; caregiver and recipient must live in the same home There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in South Dakota.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in South Dakota?
no — HOPE Waiver serves only adults 65+ or disabled adults 18-64, so a minor child cannot be the care recipient
Is there a waitlist in South Dakota?
capped at ~3,704 beneficiaries/year; a waitlist can form
How do I apply in South Dakota?
Call Dakota at Home at 833-663-9673 or your local DSS office; financial eligibility goes through DSS and the LTSS functional assessment through DHS at the same time.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for South Dakota →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · dhs.sd.gov · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Where most South Dakota caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in South Dakota — 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.