Frequently Asked Questions
Michigan Home Help Program FAQ — Everything You've Been Wondering About
The Michigan Home Help Program is one of the most valuable — and least understood — Medicaid benefits available to Michigan families. Here are the most common questions we hear, answered plainly.
General Questions
What is the Michigan Home Help Program?
The Michigan Home Help Program is a Medicaid-funded benefit administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). It pays for in-home personal care services for people who have Medicaid and need help with daily living activities. What makes it unique: the caregiver can be a family member. A son, daughter, sibling, grandchild, or other adult relative can be paid directly by the state to provide care.
How many people are enrolled in the Michigan Home Help Program?
Approximately 61,000 Michigan families are currently enrolled in the Michigan Home Help Program. It's one of the largest Medicaid personal care programs in the state — but most families who need it have never heard of it.
Is the Michigan Home Help Program available in every county?
Yes. The Michigan Home Help Program is a statewide program available to qualifying Medicaid recipients in all 83 Michigan counties. Local MDHHS offices in each county handle assessments and casework.
Is this the same as a home health agency?
No. The Michigan Home Help Program is different from home health agency services. Home health agencies provide skilled nursing care, therapy, and medical services. The Home Help Program covers personal care — help with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, and mobility. And unlike home health agencies, the caregiver can be your own family member.
Eligibility Questions
Who qualifies to receive Michigan Home Help Program services?
The person receiving care must: (1) have active Michigan Medicaid (full Medicaid or a qualifying waiver), (2) need help with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, or toileting, and (3) live in a private home — their own or a family member's. There is no age restriction.
Can a family member be a paid caregiver?
Yes. This is the heart of the program. Adult children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and other adult relatives can be enrolled as paid caregivers. You do not need any healthcare credentials or training. If you're already providing care for a family member, you may be able to get paid for the work you're already doing.
Can a spouse be a paid caregiver?
No. Federal Medicaid rules prohibit spouses from being paid caregivers for each other under the Home Help Program. This rule applies in all 50 states. If a spouse situation is involved, check whether another family member qualifies as the caregiver instead. The MI Choice Waiver program has different rules that may allow spousal caregiving in some circumstances.
Does the person receiving care have to be elderly?
No. The Michigan Home Help Program serves both elderly individuals and younger adults with disabilities. There is no minimum or maximum age requirement — the qualification is based on Medicaid eligibility and functional need, not age.
What if the person isn't on Medicaid yet?
They may be able to apply. Michigan Medicaid can be applied for through MI Bridges at michigan.gov/mibridges. Eligibility depends on income, assets, and circumstances. If you're not sure whether they qualify, call us — we help families sort out the Medicaid piece all the time.
What disqualifies a caregiver from the program?
The main disqualifying factors are: being the spouse of the recipient, failing the criminal background check (which primarily looks for crimes involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults), or being under 18. Not every criminal record is disqualifying — the specifics matter.
Pay & Payment Questions
How much does the Michigan Home Help Program pay?
Caregivers enrolled through Home Help Navigators earn $18 per hour as of January 1, 2026. MDHHS reimburses agency providers approximately $27/hour for authorized care; HHN passes $18/hour to caregivers. Rates are reviewed periodically.
How many hours will be authorized?
Hours are determined by MDHHS during an in-home needs assessment. A caseworker evaluates what daily tasks the person needs help with and how much time each requires. Depending on care needs, authorizations typically range from 40 to 179.9 hours per month (the program maximum). The assessment is the single most important step for determining earnings — families who clearly communicate the full scope of care get more hours.
How does the caregiver get paid?
Payment flows through ASAP — Adult Services Authorization and Payment, the state's payment processing system. Once the caregiver is enrolled in CHAMPS and EVV is set up, care visits are logged, claims are submitted, and ASAP releases payment on a regular cycle. Direct deposit is available. With an agency provider handling billing, payment typically arrives every two weeks.
Is the caregiver's income taxable?
Yes. Income earned as a Michigan Home Help Program caregiver is taxable income and should be reported. Whether it affects other benefits depends on the caregiver's individual situation. Speak with a tax professional for guidance specific to your circumstances.
Process & Enrollment Questions
What is CHAMPS?
CHAMPS stands for Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System. It's Michigan's Medicaid provider enrollment system. Before a caregiver can be paid through the Home Help Program, they must be enrolled in CHAMPS — this involves an application, a criminal background check, and a provider agreement with MDHHS. CHAMPS enrollment is the most common point of delay and confusion for families.
What is EVV?
EVV stands for Electronic Visit Verification. Federal law requires that all Home Help service visits be electronically verified — each visit must be logged with a start time, end time, caregiver identity, and location. Michigan uses HHAeXchange for this. Caregivers use a mobile app or phone system to clock in and out. Visits that aren't properly logged through EVV don't get paid.
How long does enrollment take?
On average, 8-14 weeks from start to first payment when navigating the process independently. With a licensed agency provider guiding enrollment and handling CHAMPS and EVV setup, the timeline can be significantly shorter — and with far fewer errors.
Does enrolling in the Home Help Program affect the recipient's Medicaid or other benefits?
No. Being enrolled in the Michigan Home Help Program does not affect the recipient's Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security benefits. The program is a Medicaid benefit — it works alongside existing coverage.
Can someone already in a nursing home use this program?
No. The Michigan Home Help Program is for people living in their own home or a family member's home. It does not apply to residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or adult foster care homes.
How does Home Help Navigators help?
Home Help Navigators (HHN) is a licensed Michigan agency provider that specializes in Michigan Home Help Program enrollment. We verify eligibility, prepare families for the MDHHS assessment, complete CHAMPS caregiver enrollment, set up EVV, and handle billing. There's no cost to families — we're compensated as an agency provider through MDHHS. Our founder Eddy Beyne built this business after his own parents passed away on Medicaid without ever knowing this program existed.
Related Resources
Still have questions?
The best way to get answers for your specific situation is a free 15-minute call with our team. We'll review your situation and tell you honestly whether the program applies to your family.