Michigan Home Help Program
Can a Family Member Get Paid to Care for a Loved One in Michigan?
If you have a family member on Michigan Medicaid who needs help with daily activities — bathing, dressing, mobility, eating, toileting — and you're providing that care, Michigan has a program that pays you for it. It's called the Michigan Home Help Program. Right now about 61,000 Michigan families are enrolled. Most families who qualify have never heard of it.
The Straightforward Answer
Michigan's Medicaid program includes a benefit that pays family members — adult children, siblings, grandchildren, other relatives — to provide in-home personal care for qualifying loved ones.
Caregivers enrolled through Home Help Navigators earn $18 per hour as of January 1, 2026. Hours are set by an MDHHS assessment based on the person's care needs.
If your mom or dad is on Medicaid and needs help at home, and you've been showing up to provide that help — this program can pay you for what you're already doing.
Who Qualifies as a Paid Caregiver?
Age 18 or older
No upper age limit — adult children at any age can qualify.
A family member or relative
Adult children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces/nephews, other adult relatives, and in some cases close family friends.
Not the spouse
Federal Medicaid rules prohibit spouses from being paid caregivers. Another family member may still be eligible.
Pass a background check
MDHHS runs a criminal history check through CHAMPS. The check primarily looks for crimes involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Not every record is disqualifying.
No healthcare license required
No CNA, home health aide, or medical credentials needed. This program was designed for family caregivers.
How Much Could You Earn?
At $18/hour, here's what different authorization levels look like:
Hours are set by MDHHS based on assessed care needs. See the full pay rates page for more detail on how authorizations work.
Common Misconceptions — Let's Clear These Up
"We make too much money to qualify."
Michigan Medicaid has specific income and asset limits — but they're often more flexible than people assume, especially for elderly individuals and people with disabilities. It's worth checking rather than assuming.
"We already tried this and gave up on the paperwork."
The paperwork is genuinely confusing. That's why we exist. Most families who gave up on their own can complete enrollment when they have someone guiding them.
"You have to be a professional caregiver to get paid."
No credentials required. The program was specifically designed to support family caregivers — people who provide care out of love, not out of professional obligation.
"The person receiving care has to be elderly."
There is no age requirement. The qualification is based on Medicaid eligibility and functional need — not age.
Find out if your family qualifies — free
Free 15-minute call. No paperwork, no obligation. We'll tell you honestly whether this program is a fit.