What family caregivers are paid in Vermont
Around $15.49–$18/hr. Your pay is not a posted wage — it comes out of a care budget Vermont sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers on the same street can be paid differently.
Vermont at a glance
- Reported pay
- $15.49–$18/hr
- Programs
- 2
- Spouse pay
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Possible
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 Vermont pays family caregivers
$15.49–$18/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Vermont Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
self-directed — participant or surrogate is the employer; ARIS Solutions serves as the fiscal intermediary handling payroll, taxes, and background checks
- Spouse can be paid?
- Sometimes
- 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 Vermont it runs through Choices for Care (self-directed), Flexible Choices, administered by Vermont Dept. of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living (DAIL); Senior HelpLine 800-642-5119; ESD Benefits Service Center 800-479-6151 (financial eligibility)
147,600 people in Vermont — 23% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 14 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 Vermont program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Vermont 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 Vermont: Submit a Vermont Long-Term Care Medicaid application (DAIL does the clinical assessment, ESD at 800-479-6151 the financial eligibility); the Senior HelpLine at 800-642-5119 can help start the process.
Vermont pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Vermont?
Figures reported for Vermont land around $15.49–$18/hr, 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 Vermont program they are on, and who administers the payroll. self-directed — participant or surrogate is the employer; ARIS Solutions serves as the fiscal intermediary handling payroll, taxes, and background checks
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 Vermont?
limited — Choices for Care pays a spouse for hands-on personal care but not for household tasks (IADLs), in both consumer-directed personal care and Flexible Choices; legal guardians and the surrogate employer cannot be paid There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Vermont.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Vermont?
no via CFC — the program serves adults (18+ with physical disabilities and seniors); children's personal care runs through separate programs
Is there a waitlist in Vermont?
Highest Needs applicants are prioritized; HCBS slots may be limited and a waitlist can form when full (Moderate Needs is capped)
How do I apply in Vermont?
Submit a Vermont Long-Term Care Medicaid application (DAIL does the clinical assessment, ESD at 800-479-6151 the financial eligibility); the Senior HelpLine at 800-642-5119 can help start the process.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Vermont →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · arissolutions.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Vermont families
Start with the Vermont caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Vermont caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Vermont — 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.