What family caregivers are paid in Utah
Around $2,372/month. Your pay is not a posted wage — it comes out of a care budget Utah sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers on the same street can be paid differently.
Utah at a glance
- Reported pay
- $2,372/month
- Programs
- 3
- Spouse pay
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Long
set inside the care plan
that can pay a relative
full rule on the spouse page
apply early either way
- 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
What Utah pays family caregivers
$2,372/month
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Utah Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
participant-directed with a financial management services agency handling payroll (New Choices Waiver); DSPD caregiver compensation runs through the person's DSPD services and requires caregiver training
- Spouse can be paid?
- Yes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Waitlists can be long — apply early.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Utah it runs through DSPD Caregiver Compensation, New Choices Waiver, Aging Waiver, administered by Utah Dept. of Health & Human Services — Division of Integrated Healthcare (Medicaid, 800-662-9651) and Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD, 1-844-275-3773)
433,100 people in Utah — 12% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 29 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 Utah program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Utah 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 Utah: For disability waivers call DSPD intake at 1-844-275-3773 or apply online at dspd.utah.gov; for the New Choices Waiver call Utah Medicaid at 800-662-9651 (option 6) after meeting facility-residency requirements.
Utah pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Utah?
Figures reported for Utah land around $2,372/month, 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 Utah program they are on, and who administers the payroll. participant-directed with a financial management services agency handling payroll (New Choices Waiver); DSPD caregiver compensation runs through the person's DSPD services and requires caregiver training
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 Utah?
yes/limited — spouses payable under DSPD Caregiver Compensation (SB 63, CMS-approved Jan 2022) for extraordinary care; New Choices Waiver allows spouses 'in some cases'; EPAS and state-plan personal care exclude spouses There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Utah.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Utah?
yes — parents, step-parents, and legal guardians can be paid under DSPD Caregiver Compensation (since 2020) after completing required training; not under state-plan personal care
Is there a waitlist in Utah?
New Choices Waiver is not an entitlement (~2,500 slots, waitlist possible); DSPD services are known for a multi-year waiting list
How do I apply in Utah?
For disability waivers call DSPD intake at 1-844-275-3773 or apply online at dspd.utah.gov; for the New Choices Waiver call Utah Medicaid at 800-662-9651 (option 6) after meeting facility-residency requirements.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Utah →
Sources: dspd.utah.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Utah families
Start with the Utah caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Utah caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Utah — 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.