Melinda Piechoski, RN · RN Director of Nursing · PA License RN641214
40+ years clinical experience in home health and geriatric nursing · August 2026
Yes, in specific circumstances Pennsylvania family caregivers can get paid for the care they already provide. The state’s main paths are Medicaid’s Community HealthChoices program, the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program, and, for military families, the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. Which one applies depends on the care recipient’s age, income, and whether they are a veteran.
This guide walks through each program, who qualifies, and how A-Team Home Care helps Philadelphia and Bucks County families sort out which option fits their situation.
Can You Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, yes, but not automatically. Pennsylvania does not have a single blanket family caregiver salary. Instead, a handful of separate programs, run by different state agencies, can pay a family member for hands-on caregiving once the care recipient qualifies medically and financially. The right program depends on whether the person receiving care is an older adult, has a long-term disability, or is a veteran.
Pennsylvania Programs That Pay Family Caregivers
Community HealthChoices (CHC) Participant-Directed Services
Community HealthChoices is Pennsylvania’s Medicaid managed long-term services and supports program for adults who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, older adults, and adults with physical disabilities [PA Department of Human Services]. CHC is delivered through three managed care organizations: Keystone First, UPMC Community HealthChoices, and PA Health & Wellness. Once a participant is approved for CHC’s home and community-based waiver, they may be eligible to self-direct their personal assistance services, meaning they can hire and supervise their own caregiver, including in some cases a family member, rather than using an agency-assigned aide. Eligibility and the specific hiring rules depend on the participant’s assessment and their managed care plan’s service coordinator. See our full guide to who qualifies for the CHC waiver for the medical and financial eligibility tests.
Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program
The Caregiver Support Program, run through the PA Department of Aging and administered locally by each county’s Area Agency on Aging, is not a wage, it is a reimbursement program. It pays back a portion of a caregiver’s out-of-pocket costs for caregiving-related services and supplies [PA Department of Aging]. Reimbursement is calculated on a sliding scale tied to the care recipient’s household income against the Federal Poverty Level: households at or below 200% of the FPL receive 100% reimbursement, and the program covers household incomes up to 380% of the FPL on a reduced scale. This program fits caregivers covering real expenses, such as adult day services, home modifications, or respite care, even if they do not qualify for a direct wage through Medicaid.
VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
For veteran families, the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers pays a monthly stipend to an eligible Primary Family Caregiver [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs]. The veteran must have a single or combined service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher and need personal care services for at least six continuous months. The caregiver must be at least 18 and a spouse, adult child, parent, stepfamily member, or extended family member of the veteran, or someone who lives with them full time. The monthly stipend is based on the federal General Schedule GS-4, step 1 pay rate for the veteran’s locality; a Level One caregiver receives 0.625 times that rate, and a Level Two caregiver, for a veteran unable to self-sustain in the community, receives the full rate.
How to Start the Application Process
The right first step depends on which program fits, but the general path looks like this:
- Identify the right program based on the care recipient’s age, income, and veteran status.
- For Community HealthChoices, contact the Independent Enrollment Broker or the local Area Agency on Aging to request a functional and financial eligibility assessment.
- For the Caregiver Support Program, contact your county’s Area Agency on Aging directly to apply and to have your household income assessed against the FPL sliding scale.
- For VA PCAFC, the veteran or their representative submits VA Form 10-10CG, and the VA schedules a joint clinical evaluation of the veteran and the proposed caregiver.
- Gather documentation ahead of time: proof of income, medical records supporting the care recipient’s needs, and, for veterans, discharge paperwork (DD-214) and the disability rating decision letter.
- Work with a licensed home care agency like A-Team Home Care while the application is pending; a service coordinator can help clarify which paid or reimbursed caregiving arrangement actually applies to your situation.
What Can Limit or Disqualify Payment
Not every family caregiving situation qualifies. Common limits worth knowing before applying: CHC’s self-direction option is set by the participant’s individual service plan, not guaranteed sitewide; the Caregiver Support Program is a reimbursement, not a wage, so it does not replace lost income from stepping back at a job; and VA PCAFC requires the 70% or higher combined disability rating threshold, so many veteran families with lower ratings will not qualify for PCAFC specifically, though they may still be eligible for other VA caregiver support services. A service coordinator or a licensed home care agency can help confirm which, if any, program actually fits before a family caregiver assumes it does.
How A-Team Home Care Helps Philadelphia and Bucks County Families
A-Team Home Care serves families across Philadelphia, Bucks County, and the surrounding 10-county Pennsylvania service area, with skilled nursing, personal care, and 24-Hour care. Families sorting out paid family caregiver options often work with our team to understand how CHC, the Caregiver Support Program, or VA benefits interact with hiring a licensed agency caregiver alongside family involvement. Call (215) 490-9994 to talk through your family’s specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get paid by Medicaid to care for my parent in Pennsylvania?
In some cases, yes. If your parent is enrolled in Community HealthChoices and approved for participant-directed personal assistance services, they may be able to hire you as their paid caregiver, subject to their service coordinator’s approval and their managed care plan’s rules.
What is the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program and how much does it pay?
It is a reimbursement program run through local Area Agencies on Aging, not a salary. It reimburses out-of-pocket caregiving costs on a sliding scale: 100% reimbursement for households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, with reduced reimbursement up to 380% of the FPL.
Can a spouse be a paid caregiver under VA PCAFC?
Yes, a spouse can qualify as a Primary Family Caregiver under the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, provided the veteran meets the 70% or higher combined disability rating requirement and the caregiver passes the required clinical evaluation.
Do all three Community HealthChoices plans allow paid family caregivers?
All three CHC managed care organizations, Keystone First, UPMC Community HealthChoices, and PA Health and Wellness, offer participant-directed services as part of the program, though the specific hiring process can vary by plan.
Does A-Team Home Care help families apply for these programs?
A-Team Home Care does not process Medicaid or VA applications directly, but our team helps Philadelphia and Bucks County families understand which program fits their situation and how a licensed home care agency caregiver can work alongside a paid family caregiver arrangement. Call (215) 490-9994 for a consultation.
Related reading: Community HealthChoices in Pennsylvania: How to Get Home Care Covered, Who Qualifies for Medicaid Home Care in PA: The CHC Waiver Explained, Medicaid Planning for Long-Term Care in Pennsylvania, and Get Paid to Care for a Child with Autism in Pennsylvania.
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