The Virginia caregiver program
Virginia pays family members to care for a relative at home through Consumer direction in the CCC Plus Waiver. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Virginia at a glance
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- $13.88–$17.97/hr
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Virginia?
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
Virginia programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Virginia it runs through:
- CCC Plus Waiver consumer direction
- LRI option (spouses & parents)
How it works: 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. The programs are administered by Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), Office of Community Living; CCC Plus Helpline 1-844-374-9159.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Virginia?
Virginia has no CDPAP by name. Its equivalent is consumer-directed personal care in the CCC Plus Waiver, and the LRI option can pay spouses and parents in some cases.
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 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
Who can be paid in Virginia
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Sometimes
- 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
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- 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
How much does Virginia pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Virginia is around $13.88–$17.97/hr. consumer-directed attendant rate $13.88/hr statewide and $17.97/hr in Northern Virginia, effective 7/1/2025 and unchanged on the 7/1/2026 rate file.
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 Virginia caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Virginia?
Depends on the program. not an entitlement — a waitlist can form when slots fill, though it has historically had no waiting list. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Virginia pays family instead of an agency
1.5 million people in Virginia — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, across 133 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 Virginia
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Virginia program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Virginia 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 Consumer direction in the CCC Plus Waiver 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: 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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Virginia caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Virginia called?
In Virginia, family caregivers are paid through CCC Plus Waiver consumer direction, LRI option (spouses & parents). Virginia has no CDPAP by name. Its equivalent is consumer-directed personal care in the CCC Plus Waiver, and the LRI option can pay spouses and parents in some cases.
Does Virginia have CDPAP or IHSS?
Virginia has no CDPAP by name. Its equivalent is consumer-directed personal care in the CCC Plus Waiver, and the LRI option can pay spouses and parents in some cases.
How much does Virginia pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $13.88–$17.97/hr. consumer-directed attendant rate $13.88/hr statewide and $17.97/hr in Northern Virginia, effective 7/1/2025 and unchanged on the 7/1/2026 rate file.
Can I get paid to take care of 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
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled 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 for the Virginia caregiver program?
not an entitlement — a waitlist can form when slots fill, though it has historically had no waiting list
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver 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.
Who runs the Virginia Medicaid caregiver program?
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), Office of Community Living; CCC Plus Helpline 1-844-374-9159.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · dmas.virginia.gov · dmas.virginia.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
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.
Across the line
States that border Virginia
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.