The Complete Guide to Medicaid Home Care with PA Cares
Learn how Pennsylvania Medicaid home care programs pay family caregivers, who qualifies, and how PA Cares helps you get approved.
How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Pennsylvania: The Complete Guide to Medicaid Home Care with PA Cares
If you are caring for a parent, spouse, or disabled loved one in Pennsylvania, you may qualify to get paid for the care you are already providing.
Every year, Pennsylvania spends billions of dollars on nursing homes — even though most people would rather stay in their own homes with family. To make that possible, the state offers Medicaid home care waiver programs that pay family members and trusted friends to provide care at home.
PA Cares helps families access these programs, get approved, and receive ongoing training, payroll, and support so caregiving becomes sustainable — not overwhelming.
This guide explains exactly how Pennsylvania’s caregiver pay system works, who qualifies, and how to get started.
Table of Contents
What Does a Family Caregiver Do?
A family caregiver provides the daily support that allows someone to live safely at home instead of entering a nursing facility.
This includes help with:
Bathing, dressing, and grooming
Eating and toileting
Walking, transferring, and mobility
Cooking, cleaning, and laundry
Grocery shopping and errands
Medication reminders
More than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians provide this type of care to a loved one. Without family caregivers, the state’s healthcare system would collapse — which is why Pennsylvania allows Medicaid to pay them.
Can You Really Get Paid to Take Care of a Family Member in Pennsylvania?
Yes.
Pennsylvania Medicaid offers Personal Assistance Services (PAS) through its home care waiver programs. These services allow eligible individuals to receive care in their home — and to choose who provides that care, including a family member.
If approved, PA Cares hires the caregiver as a W-2 employee, pays them, trains them, and supports them. This turns informal family caregiving into a real job with income, stability, and protection.
Pennsylvania Medicaid Programs That Pay Family Caregivers
PA Cares works with all major Pennsylvania home care waivers:
Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver
For seniors age 65+ and adults ages 21–64 with physical disabilities who require a nursing-facility level of care.
OBRA Waiver
For adults ages 18–59 with physical disabilities that began before age 22.
Act 150 Program
For physically disabled adults who are mentally alert but need help with daily living activities.
All of these programs allow care at home and permit participants to select their own caregivers.
How Much Do Family Caregivers Get Paid in Pennsylvania?
Caregiver pay is based on:
Your county and zip code
The number of authorized hours
The level of care required
Across Pennsylvania, most family caregivers earn between $11 and $16 per hour.
Caregivers through PA Cares are:
Paid as W-2 employees
Covered by workers’ compensation
Paid by direct deposit
Supported by a professional agency
Who Can Be a Paid Caregiver?
To get paid as a caregiver in Pennsylvania, you must:
Be 18 or older
Be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Pass criminal background checks
Pass a TB test
The following usually cannot be paid:
Spouses
Parents of minor children
Legal guardians
Power of Attorney holders
Most other family members and close friends are eligible.
How to Apply for Pennsylvania Medicaid Home Care
This is where most families get stuck — but PA Cares walks you through every step.
Step 1 – Apply Through Maximus
Maximus – IEB is Pennsylvania’s enrollment broker for Medicaid waivers.
Step 2 – Doctor’s Certification
Your loved one’s doctor confirms that daily care is medically necessary.
Step 3 – In-Home Assessment
A nurse or caseworker visits to determine eligibility.
Step 4 – Medicaid Waiver Approval
Your loved one is placed into CHC, OBRA, or Act 150 and receives authorized hours.
Step 5 – In-Home Assessment from the MCO- Insurance
A nurse or caseworker visits to determine how many care hours are needed.
Step 6 – Choose PA Cares
Your loved one selects PA Cares as their agency and chooses their caregiver.
Most families begin receiving pay within about 90 days.
Why Families and Caregivers Choose PA Cares
Many “self-directed” Medicaid programs force the elderly or disabled person to become the employer — responsible for payroll, taxes, and compliance.
PA Cares removes that burden completely.
We provide:
W-2 payroll and tax filing
Workers’ compensation insurance
Caregiver training and certification
Ongoing support for caregivers and participants
Compliance with all Pennsylvania Medicaid rules
You focus on care.
We handle everything else.
Caregiver Benefits at PA Cares
When you work with PA Cares, you are not just getting paid — you are joining a professional home care organization that supports you and protects you.
Our caregivers receive:
Competitive pay and benefits
Weekly and daily pay options
Flexible schedules
Medical insurance for eligible caregivers
Holiday pay and overtime
Comprehensive training programs
Supportive and inclusive work environment
Referral program to earn extra income
This makes PA Cares one of the strongest caregiver employers in Pennsylvania — especially for family caregivers.
You Deserve Support for the Care You Provide
If you are caring for a loved one in Pennsylvania, you may qualify for both professional support and financial compensation through Medicaid.
PA Cares helps families across Pennsylvania stay home, stay together, and get paid for the care they provide.
Contact PA Cares today to see if you qualify.
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