Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Vermont?
In Vermont the answer turns on which program your spouse is on and how their care plan is written. Some routes pay a husband or wife; others pay every relative except a spouse. That is worth ten minutes to get right, because the difference is a paycheck.
The short answer
- Spouse can be paid
- Sometimes
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- $15.49–$18/hr
- Waitlist
- Possible
see the full rule below
in this state
set inside the care plan
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 decides it in your case
- Which program your spouse enrolls in — self-directed routes are the ones that can pay a spouse.
- Whether the state treats you as a legally responsible relative for the specific tasks in the plan.
- Whether the hours are ordinary daily help or skilled care that needs a licensed worker.
- Whether another adult in the household could be the paid caregiver instead.
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 Vermont's rule actually says
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
The programs this runs through in Vermont: Choices for Care (self-directed), Flexible Choices. Who runs them: 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 are 65 or older. Most of them are cared for at home, by a relative — usually without being paid for it.
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.
self-directed — participant or surrogate is the employer; ARIS Solutions serves as the fiscal intermediary handling payroll, taxes, and background checks
See if you qualify →Spouse questions in Vermont, answered
Can I get paid to care for my husband or wife in Vermont?
Sometimes — it depends on the program and the care plan. The published rule: 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
Why do some states allow this and others don't?
Medicaid has long treated care between spouses as a family duty rather than paid work. Self-directed programs changed that in many states by making the person who needs care the employer — they choose their own worker, and in some states that can be a spouse. It is a state-by-state policy choice, not a federal rule.
How much would I earn in Vermont?
Reported pay in Vermont runs around $15.49–$18/hr, though your exact rate is set by the program and the care plan.
Does my spouse need Medicaid first?
Yes. These are Medicaid programs, so your spouse has to qualify for Vermont Medicaid and need long-term care help. Many families assume they earn too much and never apply. The rules for long-term care are not the same as regular Medicaid — check before you rule yourself out.
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 we start?
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.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · arissolutions.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules 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
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