Taking care of someone very dear to you is an unparalleled feeling. It causes an upsurge of emotions like love and empathy. But among these sweet emotions, caregivers often neglect the darker emotions that hover over their minds until these negative emotions overpower the positive ones. And when this happens, both the caregiver and care recipient suffer equally.
While caregiving is rewarding in many ways, it also takes its toll on the caregiver. But certain perks come like a whiff of fresh air and blow away a few issues. The programs that help care recipients pay for their family caregivers are the perks that solve the financial woes of the caregiver.
If you are taking care of your loved one and wondering “how to get paid by the state for taking care of someone,” this article might help you.
Listed below are the programs that pay family caregivers.
Contents
Veteran Benefits
VA health care helps veterans to cope with a disability or any health condition from their homes. The program offers home health aide (HHA) service, home-based primary care, and respite care for the caregivers. However, it is subject to the personal eligibility of the veteran and the availability of the program in the geographic area.
Here are some plans that help veterans pay their family caregivers.
- Veteran-directed home and community-based services
Under this, veterans receive personal care and assistance with their daily activities from VA medical centers in VD-HCBS contracts with home health agencies.
Veterans who need nursing home level care can select their caregiver (either a family member or a home care agency), given they are enrolled in the VA health care system.
- Program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers
Under this program, a veteran and the primary caregiver can receive various benefits. Eligible veteran and the family member over 18 years of age get benefits, such as caregiver education and training, financial assistance, including the cost of commute to the VA medical center, mental health counseling, healthcare access through CHAMPVA (Civilian Health And Medical Program), a month of respite care, and a monthly stipend.
- Veterans pensions
Pensions are determined by different levels.
- Level 1- Basic pension to veterans with low income and assets.
- Level 2- Housebound pension to the veterans who are disabled, have limited assets and low income, and can’t leave their homes.
- A&A (Aid and Attendance) pension for veterans with limited assets and low income who need assistance from another person to carry out their ADLs (activities of daily living).
Medicaid
Medicaid offers coverage to applicants who live on low income and have few assets, excluding their home. The coverage includes doctor’s visits, hospital care, home health care, long-term care, and personal care. The applicants who meet the functional and financial requirements delineated by the authorities get good healthcare coverage.
Almost every state now has a program that pays for the in-home care of the recipient. In most states, if a senior has qualified to get Medicaid in-home care services, the state pays the family members. However, the guidelines vary for each state.
- Medicaid HCBS waivers
Seniors who otherwise be in a hospital or nursing home to get long-term care may qualify for Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (HCBS) to get support and assistance at home. States pay for the care of the senior recipient.
The guidelines vary for each state.
- Medicaid Cash and Counseling Programs
The Cash and Counseling program pays the Medicaid recipients a predetermined amount of money every month, which the senior can use to pay their caregiver, family caregiver, or friend for taking care of them.
The bottom line
These were the programs that pay family caregivers. Determine the eligibility of your loved one and enroll them in any of these programs to get paid as a caregiver.
