The Vermont caregiver program
Vermont pays family members to care for a relative at home through Choices for Care (self-directed). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Vermont at a glance
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- $15.49–$18/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Vermont?
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
Vermont programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Vermont it runs through:
- Choices for Care (self-directed)
- Flexible Choices
How it works: self-directed — participant or surrogate is the employer; ARIS Solutions serves as the fiscal intermediary handling payroll, taxes, and background checks. The programs are administered by Vermont Dept. of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living (DAIL); Senior HelpLine 800-642-5119; ESD Benefits Service Center 800-479-6151 (financial eligibility).
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Vermont?
Vermont has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Vermont equivalent runs through Choices for Care (self-directed), Flexible Choices, 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 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
Who can be paid in Vermont
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- 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
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- no via CFC — the program serves adults (18+ with physical disabilities and seniors); children's personal care runs through separate programs
How much does Vermont pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Vermont is around $15.49–$18/hr. minimum wage on the CFC wage notice $15.49/hr effective 7/6/2025; most self-directed caregivers reportedly earn ~$16-$18/hr, set within the approved budget.
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 Vermont caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Vermont?
Waitlist possible. Highest Needs applicants are prioritized; HCBS slots may be limited and a waitlist can form when full (Moderate Needs is capped). Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Vermont pays family instead of an agency
147,600 people in Vermont — 23% of the state — are 65 or older, across 14 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 Vermont
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Vermont program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Vermont 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 Choices for Care (self-directed) 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: 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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Vermont caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Vermont called?
In Vermont, family caregivers are paid through Choices for Care (self-directed), Flexible Choices. Vermont has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Vermont equivalent runs through Choices for Care (self-directed), Flexible Choices, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Vermont have CDPAP or IHSS?
Vermont has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Vermont equivalent runs through Choices for Care (self-directed), Flexible Choices, where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Vermont pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $15.49–$18/hr. minimum wage on the CFC wage notice $15.49/hr effective 7/6/2025; most self-directed caregivers reportedly earn ~$16-$18/hr, set within the approved budget.
Can I get paid to take care of 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
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled 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 for the Vermont caregiver program?
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 to be a paid caregiver 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.
Who runs the Vermont Medicaid caregiver program?
Vermont Dept. of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living (DAIL); Senior HelpLine 800-642-5119; ESD Benefits Service Center 800-479-6151 (financial eligibility).
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · arissolutions.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
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.
Across the line
States that border Vermont
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.