The Texas caregiver program
Texas pays family members to care for a relative at home through Consumer Directed Services (CDS). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Texas at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $13–$15/hr
- Spouse paid?
- No
- Waitlist
- Long
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Texas?
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
Texas programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Texas it runs through:
- Consumer Directed Services (CDS)
- STAR+PLUS HCBS
- CLASS & MDCP Waivers
How it works: self-directed, but every CDS employer must use a financial management services agency (FMSA) for payroll, taxes, and background checks. The programs are administered by Texas Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC); interest lists 877-438-5658 (CLASS/MDCP) and 800-964-2777 (STAR+PLUS HCBS).
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Texas?
Texas has no program called CDPAP or IHSS. Its version is the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option, available inside STAR+PLUS and several waivers, where the person receiving care employs their own attendant — often 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 Texas pays family caregivers
$13–$15/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Texas Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Texas
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Not right now
- no — spouses cannot be paid attendants in Medicaid CDS programs; reported exception: state-funded CMPAS may allow a spouse
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- no — a legally responsible parent (or foster parent, or spouse of a parent) cannot be the paid attendant for their minor child (e.g. CAS rule); parents of adult children CAN be paid
How much does Texas pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Texas is around $13–$15/hr. attendant base wage built into Medicaid rates rose to $13.00/hr on 9/1/2025; up to about $15/hr reported depending on program and MCO.
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 Texas caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Texas?
Waitlists can be long. severe — STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list wait is 'many years' (~5,034 reported); CLASS ~48,169 and MDCP ~27,012 on interest lists with waits reported up to ~13-15 years. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Texas pays family instead of an agency
4.4 million people in Texas — 14% of the state — are 65 or older, across 254 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 Texas
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Texas program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Texas 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 Consumer Directed Services (CDS) 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 877-438-5658 to join the CLASS or MDCP interest list, or 800-964-2777 for the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list; benefits applications go through YourTexasBenefits.com or 2-1-1 Texas.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Texas caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Texas called?
In Texas, family caregivers are paid through Consumer Directed Services (CDS), STAR+PLUS HCBS, CLASS & MDCP Waivers. Texas has no program called CDPAP or IHSS. Its version is the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option, available inside STAR+PLUS and several waivers, where the person receiving care employs their own attendant — often a relative.
Does Texas have CDPAP or IHSS?
Texas has no program called CDPAP or IHSS. Its version is the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option, available inside STAR+PLUS and several waivers, where the person receiving care employs their own attendant — often a relative.
How much does Texas pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $13–$15/hr. attendant base wage built into Medicaid rates rose to $13.00/hr on 9/1/2025; up to about $15/hr reported depending on program and MCO.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Texas?
no — spouses cannot be paid attendants in Medicaid CDS programs; reported exception: state-funded CMPAS may allow a spouse
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Texas?
no — a legally responsible parent (or foster parent, or spouse of a parent) cannot be the paid attendant for their minor child (e.g. CAS rule); parents of adult children CAN be paid
Is there a waitlist for the Texas caregiver program?
severe — STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list wait is 'many years' (~5,034 reported); CLASS ~48,169 and MDCP ~27,012 on interest lists with waits reported up to ~13-15 years
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Texas?
Call 877-438-5658 to join the CLASS or MDCP interest list, or 800-964-2777 for the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list; benefits applications go through YourTexasBenefits.com or 2-1-1 Texas.
Who runs the Texas Medicaid caregiver program?
Texas Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC); interest lists 877-438-5658 (CLASS/MDCP) and 800-964-2777 (STAR+PLUS HCBS).
Sources: hhs.texas.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Texas caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Texas — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Texas
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.