Medical disclaimer. This article provides general educational information. It is not medical advice. For care decisions specific to your loved one, call A-Team Home Care at (215) 490-9994 for a free RN assessment.
TL;DR. A-Team Home Care’s Family Caregiver Program enrolls eligible Pennsylvania family members as paid W-2 caregivers for a parent or relative receiving Medicaid Community HealthChoices (CHC) services. Adult children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, and most other relatives can qualify. Spouses and legal guardians are excluded under federal Medicaid rules. The program turns hours that family members are already providing into hourly pay, with payroll, taxes, RN supervision, and PTO. This article walks through eligibility, the enrollment process, how pay works, and what makes the A-Team program different.
Why this program exists
Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices is the state’s managed long-term services and supports program for older adults and people with physical disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid. Under the program’s Participant-Directed model, the participant has the right to select who provides their personal care, including family members other than spouses and legally responsible guardians (Pennsylvania DHS, Community HealthChoices).
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has supported participant-directed care for over two decades through programs like Cash & Counseling and the broader 1915(c) home and community-based services waivers (CMS, Self-Directed Services). The principle: a family member who already provides care knows the person best and produces better outcomes than a rotating roster of strangers.
Who can be paid as a family caregiver in Pennsylvania
Eligible relatives include:
- Adult children
- Stepchildren
- Grandchildren
- Adult siblings
- Nieces and nephews
- Aunts and uncles
- Cousins
- In-laws
- Most other adult relatives
Generally NOT eligible under federal Medicaid rules:
- The participant’s spouse
- A parent of a minor participant who is the legally responsible relative
- Anyone serving as legal guardian of the participant
The participant being cared for must be enrolled in Pennsylvania Medicaid Community HealthChoices and meet the state’s clinical eligibility criteria for nursing-facility level of care. Both pieces are confirmed as part of A-Team’s intake process.
How it works at A-Team
A-Team Home Care is a Pennsylvania-licensed, ACHC-accredited home care agency contracted with all three CHC managed care organizations (Keystone First Community HealthChoices, UPMC Community HealthChoices, and PA Health & Wellness). The Family Caregiver Program walks a family from first call through paid caregiving in a structured process:
Step 1. Initial call and screening
A care coordinator at A-Team confirms the participant’s Medicaid status and helps determine if Community HealthChoices enrollment is in place or needs to be initiated. If the participant has Medicare and limited income, CHC application support is provided.
Step 2. RN home assessment
A registered nurse visits the home (free, no obligation) to assess the participant’s care needs and develop a written plan of care. The RN documents activities of daily living, mobility, cognitive status, medications, and home environment.
Step 3. Family caregiver onboarding
The family member(s) who will be paid complete A-Team’s caregiver onboarding: background check, identity verification, basic health requirements, and orientation to home care policies. Pennsylvania requires criminal background checks for all paid caregivers under 35 P.S. § 10225.502.
Step 4. Training
Required training covers safe lifting and transfers, infection control, medication assistance, signs and symptoms to report, emergency procedures, and HIPAA. Existing caregiving experience does not exempt a family member from this training — it is a CMS and PA DHS requirement.
Step 5. Authorization and scheduling
The CHC managed care organization authorizes a weekly hour budget based on the assessed needs. The family caregiver and A-Team build a schedule that fits the participant’s needs and the caregiver’s availability.
Step 6. Payroll and ongoing supervision
The family caregiver clocks in and out using A-Team’s electronic visit verification (EVV) system, which CMS requires for all Medicaid personal care services under the 21st Century Cures Act. A-Team processes payroll every 2 weeks. An RN reviews the care plan and visits the home periodically for ongoing supervision.
What the family caregiver gets paid
A-Team’s Family Caregiver Program provides:
- Hourly W-2 wages — not 1099, not under-the-table. Real employment with payroll tax withholding.
- Direct deposit every two weeks.
- Paid time off per Pennsylvania employment standards.
- Workers’ compensation coverage.
- Unemployment insurance contributions.
- RN supervision and clinical backup — the family caregiver is never alone with a difficult clinical question.
- Backup coverage when the family caregiver needs a day off, has a personal emergency, or wants vacation.
- Continuing training on dementia care, fall prevention, infection control, and other relevant topics.
Specific pay rates are set by the CHC managed care organization’s contract and depend on the type of care authorized.
Why families choose this over informal arrangements
Many families try informal “pay Mom’s caregiver under the table” arrangements at first. They rarely work long-term:
- Tax exposure for both sides — the IRS treats household employee pay as taxable, and unreported wages create liability.
- No workers’ comp if the family member is hurt on the job.
- No backup — one sick day, COVID exposure, or wedding weekend creates a crisis.
- No clinical oversight — medication errors and missed signs go uncorrected.
- No record of work — a Social Security work history matters for the family caregiver’s own retirement.
- Mom or Dad’s actual care needs may exceed what one family member can sustain alone.
The Family Caregiver Program turns the same hours into legitimate employment with all of the above gaps closed.
What about families not on Medicaid yet?
Many families enter A-Team’s program before Medicaid is in place. The participant may have Medicare and limited income, may be paying privately for care that is depleting savings, or may not yet realize they qualify. A-Team’s care coordinators help with:
- Pennsylvania Medicaid eligibility screening
- Community HealthChoices application and re-determination
- Long-term Medicaid planning conversations and referral to elder-law attorneys when needed
- VA Aid and Attendance application support for veterans and surviving spouses
While Medicaid is being established, families often start with private-pay home care or VA-funded care so the participant gets coverage immediately. Many transition to the Family Caregiver Program once Medicaid is approved.
How this fits into the larger care plan
Family caregivers do not have to do everything alone. A-Team often pairs a paid family caregiver with non-family staff to cover:
- Hours the family member cannot work (job conflicts, school, sleep)
- Specific tasks the family is not comfortable with (bathing a parent of the opposite gender)
- Backup during family vacations, illness, or burnout
- Overnight or 24-hour shifts when needs increase — see A-Team’s 24-hour home care
The family caregiver becomes part of a care team rather than the entire team.
Career path within A-Team
Family caregivers in the program often continue with A-Team after their loved one no longer needs care — either when the senior moves to a higher level of care or passes away. A-Team is consistently hiring. Many of A-Team’s professional caregivers started as family caregivers, gained experience, and built careers in home care. See A-Team Careers for current openings and benefits.
How to enroll
For Philadelphia, Bucks County, and Montgomery County families:
- Call A-Team’s care coordinators at (215) 490-9994 or email service@ateampa.com.
- Complete a free phone screening to confirm participant Medicaid status.
- Schedule the free in-home RN assessment (typically within 48 hours).
- Begin family caregiver onboarding — background check, training, and orientation typically take 1–2 weeks.
- Start paid hours once authorization and onboarding are complete.
Full program details are on the Family Caregiver Program page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get paid to take care of my mom in Pennsylvania?
Yes, in most cases. If your mother is enrolled in Pennsylvania Medicaid Community HealthChoices and meets the state’s clinical criteria, you can be paid as her caregiver under the Participant-Directed model. Adult children, grandchildren, and most other adult relatives qualify. Spouses are excluded under federal Medicaid rules. A-Team Home Care handles enrollment, training, payroll, and supervision.
How much does a family caregiver get paid in Pennsylvania?
Pay rates are set by the Community HealthChoices managed care organization contract and vary by service type and authorization. A-Team’s care coordinators provide specific rates during the initial conversation based on the assessed care plan and authorized hours.
Do I have to be a Certified Nursing Assistant to be a paid family caregiver?
No. Personal care aide work in Pennsylvania does not require CNA certification. A-Team provides all required training during onboarding and ongoing. Some CHC service categories require additional credentialing, which A-Team helps coordinate.
What if my parent does not have Medicaid yet?
A-Team’s care coordinators help with Pennsylvania Medicaid eligibility and Community HealthChoices applications. Many families start with private-pay or VA-funded care while Medicaid is being established, then transition to the Family Caregiver Program once approved.
Can I be paid to care for my husband or wife?
Generally no, under federal Medicaid rules. Spouses are excluded from paid family caregiver programs. There are limited exceptions in some states’ programs and through specific waiver provisions, but the federal default is no. Other relatives (adult children, siblings, in-laws) can typically be paid.
Will being a paid family caregiver affect my own Social Security or benefits?
Yes, in positive ways. W-2 wages count toward Social Security work credits. Workers’ comp covers on-the-job injury. Unemployment insurance is contributed. Wages are taxable income, so consult a tax preparer to plan for that. The arrangement is legitimate employment with all standard implications.
How quickly can I start being paid?
For families where the participant already has Medicaid Community HealthChoices and a current authorization, the family caregiver can typically start paid work within 1–2 weeks of completing onboarding. For families needing CHC enrollment first, the timeline is 4–8 weeks. A-Team often arranges interim coverage during the gap.
Can other relatives be paid too, or just one person?
More than one relative can be paid, depending on the authorized hours. Some families have an adult daughter cover weekdays and a niece cover weekends. The total cannot exceed the authorized hours and each caregiver completes onboarding individually.
Sources & further reading
- Pennsylvania DHS — Community HealthChoices
- CMS — Self-Directed Services
- CMS — Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging — aging.pa.gov
- A-Team Home Care — Family Caregiver Program
- A-Team Home Care — Careers
Disclaimer
Eligibility and pay rates are determined by Pennsylvania DHS, the participant’s Community HealthChoices managed care organization, and A-Team Home Care’s contracts. Federal Medicaid rules apply. This article is for general information; specific eligibility is confirmed individually. A-Team Home Care is an ACHC-accredited home care agency serving Pennsylvania.
