The South Dakota caregiver program
South Dakota pays family members to care for a relative at home through Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
South Dakota at a glance
- Programs
- 1
- Reported pay
- $392/week
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in South Dakota?
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 Dakota programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In South Dakota it runs through:
How it works: 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. The programs are 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.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in South Dakota?
South Dakota has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The South Dakota equivalent runs through Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE 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 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
Who can be paid in South Dakota
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Yes
- yes — spouses may serve as the paid SFC caregiver; caregiver and recipient must live in the same home
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- no — HOPE Waiver serves only adults 65+ or disabled adults 18-64, so a minor child cannot be the care recipient
How much does South Dakota pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in South Dakota is around $392/week. SFC per-diem tiers effective 7/1/2026: base $82.00/day, tier 1 $102.52/day, tier 2 $114.81/day, with a minimum 50% paid to the caregiver; ~up to $392/week tax-free stipend reported. Some of this pay can be tax-free under the IRS difficulty-of-care rule when the caregiver lives with the person receiving care.
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 Dakota caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in South Dakota?
Waitlist possible. capped at ~3,704 beneficiaries/year; a waitlist can form. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why South Dakota pays family instead of an agency
173,800 people in South Dakota — 19% of the state — are 65 or older, across 66 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 Dakota
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which South Dakota program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
South Dakota 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 Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver) 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: 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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
South Dakota caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in South Dakota called?
In South Dakota, family caregivers are paid through Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver). South Dakota has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The South Dakota equivalent runs through Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does South Dakota have CDPAP or IHSS?
South Dakota has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The South Dakota equivalent runs through Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does South Dakota pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $392/week. SFC per-diem tiers effective 7/1/2026: base $82.00/day, tier 1 $102.52/day, tier 2 $114.81/day, with a minimum 50% paid to the caregiver; ~up to $392/week tax-free stipend reported.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in South Dakota?
yes — spouses may serve as the paid SFC caregiver; caregiver and recipient must live in the same home
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled 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 for the South Dakota caregiver program?
capped at ~3,704 beneficiaries/year; a waitlist can form
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver 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.
Who runs the South Dakota Medicaid caregiver program?
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.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · dhs.sd.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules 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.
Across the line
States that border South Dakota
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.