What family caregivers are paid in Virginia
Around $13.88–$17.97/hr. Your pay is not a posted wage — it comes out of a care budget Virginia sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers on the same street can be paid differently.
Virginia at a glance
- Reported pay
- $13.88–$17.97/hr
- Programs
- 2
- Spouse pay
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Mixed
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 Virginia pays family caregivers
$13.88–$17.97/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Virginia Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
no home-care agency; fully consumer-directed but a fiscal/employer agent is mandatory — PPL (Public Partnerships) or Consumer Direct Care Network depending on the member's managed-care plan, plus a services facilitator
- Spouse can be paid?
- Sometimes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Some programs have no waitlist.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Virginia it runs through CCC Plus Waiver consumer direction, LRI option (spouses & parents), administered by Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), Office of Community Living; CCC Plus Helpline 1-844-374-9159
1.5 million people in Virginia — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 133 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 Virginia program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Virginia 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 Virginia: Apply for Medicaid via Cover Virginia or the local Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) office and request a functional (nursing-facility level of care) screening through local DSS.
Virginia pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Virginia?
Figures reported for Virginia land around $13.88–$17.97/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 Virginia program they are on, and who administers the payroll. no home-care agency; fully consumer-directed but a fiscal/employer agent is mandatory — PPL (Public Partnerships) or Consumer Direct Care Network depending on the member's managed-care plan, plus a services facilitator
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 Virginia?
limited — spouses payable only as Legally Responsible Individuals for 'extraordinary care' (ADLs only, not IADLs/supervision) when circumstances prevent a non-LRI caregiver; capped at 40 hrs/week; LRI rules updated eff. 7/1/2025 There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Virginia.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Virginia?
limited — parents of minors payable under the same LRI rules (extraordinary care, ADLs only, up to 40 hrs/week per child); no respite allowed alongside a paid LRI
Is there a waitlist in Virginia?
not an entitlement — a waitlist can form when slots fill, though it has historically had no waiting list
How do I apply in Virginia?
Apply for Medicaid via Cover Virginia or the local Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) office and request a functional (nursing-facility level of care) screening through local DSS.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Virginia →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · dmas.virginia.gov · dmas.virginia.gov · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Virginia families
Start with the Virginia caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Virginia caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Virginia — 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.