The Washington caregiver program
Washington pays family members to care for a relative at home through Community First Choice (CFC). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Washington at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $22.52–$27.28/hr
- Spouse paid?
- No
- Waitlist
- None
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Washington?
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
Washington programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Washington it runs through:
- Community First Choice (CFC)
- Medicaid Personal Care (MPC)
- Individual Provider (via CDWA)
How it works: no traditional agency, but all Individual Providers must be employed through CDWA (Consumer Directed Employer; handles contracting, background check, training, payroll) while the client directs day-to-day care. The programs are administered by WA Dept. of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA); HCS regional intake: Region 1 Spokane 800-459-0421, Region 2 Seattle 800-346-9257, Region 3 Tacoma 800-422-5129; CDWA 866-214-9899.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Washington?
Washington has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Washington equivalent runs through Community First Choice (CFC), Medicaid Personal Care (MPC), Individual Provider (via CDWA), 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 Washington pays family caregivers
$22.52–$27.28/hr
Source: Washington Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Washington
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Not right now
- no — DSHS: 'Spouses cannot be paid to care for each other'; some spouses may qualify via Veteran Directed Care or WA Cares Fund instead
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- no — DSHS: 'Parents cannot be paid to care for a child under 18'
How much does Washington pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Washington is around $22.52–$27.28/hr. SEIU 775/CDWA wage scale: $22.52-$26.09/hr from 7/1/2025, rising to $23.54-$27.28/hr on 7/1/2026 (step by cumulative career hours), plus benefits.
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 Washington caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Washington?
No waitlist reported. CFC is an entitlement — no waitlist; MAC & TSOA paused enrollment and started a waitlist 12/1/2025. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Washington pays family instead of an agency
1.4 million people in Washington — 17% of the state — are 65 or older, across 39 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 Washington
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Washington program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Washington 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 Community First Choice (CFC) 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: The care recipient applies for Apple Health LTSS through a DSHS Home & Community Services regional intake office and gets a CARE assessment; the family caregiver then applies as an Individual Provider at consumerdirectwa.com.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Washington caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Washington called?
In Washington, family caregivers are paid through Community First Choice (CFC), Medicaid Personal Care (MPC), Individual Provider (via CDWA). Washington has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Washington equivalent runs through Community First Choice (CFC), Medicaid Personal Care (MPC), Individual Provider (via CDWA), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Washington have CDPAP or IHSS?
Washington has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Washington equivalent runs through Community First Choice (CFC), Medicaid Personal Care (MPC), Individual Provider (via CDWA), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Washington pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $22.52–$27.28/hr. SEIU 775/CDWA wage scale: $22.52-$26.09/hr from 7/1/2025, rising to $23.54-$27.28/hr on 7/1/2026 (step by cumulative career hours), plus benefits.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Washington?
no — DSHS: 'Spouses cannot be paid to care for each other'; some spouses may qualify via Veteran Directed Care or WA Cares Fund instead
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Washington?
no — DSHS: 'Parents cannot be paid to care for a child under 18'
Is there a waitlist for the Washington caregiver program?
CFC is an entitlement — no waitlist; MAC & TSOA paused enrollment and started a waitlist 12/1/2025
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Washington?
The care recipient applies for Apple Health LTSS through a DSHS Home & Community Services regional intake office and gets a CARE assessment; the family caregiver then applies as an Individual Provider at consumerdirectwa.com.
Who runs the Washington Medicaid caregiver program?
WA Dept. of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA); HCS regional intake: Region 1 Spokane 800-459-0421, Region 2 Seattle 800-346-9257, Region 3 Tacoma 800-422-5129; CDWA 866-214-9899.
Sources: dshs.wa.gov · dshs.wa.gov · seiu775.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Washington caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Washington — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Washington
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.