The Utah caregiver program
Utah pays family members to care for a relative at home through DSPD Caregiver Compensation. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Utah at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $2,372/month
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Long
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Utah?
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
Utah programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Utah it runs through:
- DSPD Caregiver Compensation
- New Choices Waiver
- Aging Waiver
How it works: 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. The programs are 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).
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Utah?
Utah has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Utah equivalent runs through DSPD Caregiver Compensation, New Choices Waiver, Aging 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 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
Who can be paid in Utah
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Yes
- 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
- Parent of a minor child Yes
- 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
How much does Utah pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Utah is around $2,372/month. no published hourly schedule found; parents receiving DSPD caregiver compensation reportedly averaged ~$2,372/month for extraordinary 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 Utah caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Utah?
Waitlists can be long. New Choices Waiver is not an entitlement (~2,500 slots, waitlist possible); DSPD services are known for a multi-year waiting list. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Utah pays family instead of an agency
433,100 people in Utah — 12% of the state — are 65 or older, across 29 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 Utah
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Utah program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Utah 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 DSPD Caregiver Compensation 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: 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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Utah caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Utah called?
In Utah, family caregivers are paid through DSPD Caregiver Compensation, New Choices Waiver, Aging Waiver. Utah has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Utah equivalent runs through DSPD Caregiver Compensation, New Choices Waiver, Aging Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Utah have CDPAP or IHSS?
Utah has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Utah equivalent runs through DSPD Caregiver Compensation, New Choices Waiver, Aging Waiver, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Utah pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $2,372/month. no published hourly schedule found; parents receiving DSPD caregiver compensation reportedly averaged ~$2,372/month for extraordinary care.
Can I get paid to take care of 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
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled 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 for the Utah caregiver program?
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 to be a paid caregiver 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.
Who runs the Utah Medicaid caregiver program?
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).
Sources: dspd.utah.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
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.
Across the line
States that border Utah
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.