Get paid to care for family in Lincoln County
Most of the 7,160 people in Lincoln County who are 65 or older are cared for at home, by a relative. Wisconsin Medicaid can pay you for that work.
Lincoln County at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 7,160
- Aged 85+
- 681
- Rank in WI
- 44th
- Median age
- 49.5
25% of residents
when daily help usually starts
of 72 counties, by residents 65+
older than the country
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates (Vintage 2024). Lincoln County is a rural county (Rural-Urban Continuum Code 6).
- 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
Care in Lincoln
What being a paid caregiver looks like here
About 7,160 people in Lincoln County are 65 or older — 25% of everyone who lives here. That is an older county than Wisconsin overall, so more families here are already doing this work. Roughly 681 are 85 or older, the age when daily help usually starts. In a rural county, an agency aide may be a long drive away — when one is available at all. That is exactly why the state lets you be the paid caregiver instead.
Statewide, 1.2 million people in Wisconsin are 65 or older — 20% of the state, across 72 counties.
What Wisconsin pays family caregivers
$12–$17/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Wisconsin DHS IRIS program data · Updated September 2026
Wisconsin's programs at a glance
- IRIS
- Family Care
- Personal Care Services (PCS)
- CLTS Waiver (children)
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- No waitlist.
These rules are set by the state, so they are the same in every county. Read the full Wisconsin guide →
Towns and cities in Lincoln County
Wisconsin sets eligibility, not your town — so a family in Merrill and a family at the far edge of the county apply the same way. The largest communities in Lincoln County:
- Merrill9,445
- Tomahawk3,390
- Merrill2,870
- Bradley2,420
- Pine River1,851
- Scott1,362
- King966
- Schley959
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Subcounty Population Estimates.
How families in Lincoln apply
You do not need a county office to start. Families in Lincoln County start with Wisconsin's program:
Contact the local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or Tribal aging and disability resource specialist for eligibility screening and an in-person functional assessment, then choose IRIS over Family Care.
Or skip the phone tag — our free 2-minute check tells you which Wisconsin program fits your family, then we help with the forms.
See if you qualify →Lincoln questions, answered honestly
Can I get paid to care for a family member in Lincoln County?
Yes. Wisconsin runs real Medicaid programs — like IRIS — that pay family caregivers, and they cover families in Lincoln County. We help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
How much do family caregivers earn in Lincoln County?
Reported figures in Wisconsin are around $12–$17/hr, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Where do families in Lincoln County apply?
Families in Lincoln County start with the state, not the county. Contact the local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or Tribal aging and disability resource specialist for eligibility screening and an in-person functional assessment, then choose IRIS over Family Care.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Lincoln County?
Yes — a spouse can be paid here. The fine print for Wisconsin: yes — relatives, including spouses, can be hired per medicaidplanningassistance.org
How many people in Lincoln County might need this?
7,160 residents of Lincoln County are 65 or older and about 681 are 85 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimates. Most of them are cared for at home by a relative rather than in a facility. Wisconsin's programs exist to pay for exactly that care.
Which towns in Lincoln do you cover?
All of Lincoln County — including Merrill, Tomahawk, Merrill, Bradley and Pine River. Eligibility is set by Wisconsin, not by your town, so where you live inside the county does not change whether you qualify.
Program facts come from Wisconsin's published Medicaid program rules · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For families in Lincoln County
Start with the Wisconsin caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.