2026 Pay Rates
Michigan Home Help Program Pay Rates — What Caregivers Actually Earn
If you're wondering what the Michigan Home Help Program actually pays — this page has the numbers. Current rate, how hours are authorized, and real examples of monthly earnings.
per hour
Effective January 1, 2026 · MDHHS-approved rate · Statewide
The Current Pay Rate
Caregivers enrolled through Home Help Navigators earn $18 per hour. MDHHS reimburses agency providers approximately $27/hour for authorized care, and HHN passes $18/hour directly to caregivers. The rate is the same whether you're in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, or anywhere else in Michigan.
Pay rates are reviewed periodically. We update this page when rates change. If you're reading this months from now, reach out to confirm the current rate.
How Many Hours Get Authorized?
The pay rate is only part of the picture. What you actually earn depends on how many hours MDHHS authorizes for the person receiving care. Hours are determined during an in-home needs assessment— a caseworker visits the home and evaluates what daily tasks the person needs help with.
40–70 hrs/month
Light care needs
70–110 hrs/month
Moderate care needs
110–179.9 hrs/month
Significant care needs
The assessment is the most important step for your earnings.
Families who clearly communicate the full scope of care needed — and bring medical documentation — tend to get more hours authorized. The difference between 15 authorized hours per week and 25 hours per week is over $700 per month. HHN helps families prepare for this assessment.
Monthly Earnings Examples
Here's what different authorization levels look like in actual take-home dollars, at $18/hour:
*These are gross (pre-tax) earnings. Home Help caregiver income is taxable. Speak with a tax professional about how to handle this income.
How Payment Works Through ASAP
Payment to caregivers is processed through ASAP — Adult Services Authorization and Payment, the state system that handles Home Help billing. Here's the payment flow:
Caregiver provides care and logs each visit through Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
EVV data is submitted to verify that services were provided
Claims are processed through the billing system (handled by HHN if you're with us)
ASAP releases payment on a regular cycle — typically every two weeks
Does being a paid caregiver affect other benefits?
For the caregiver: The income earned is taxable and should be reported. Whether it affects other benefits depends on the caregiver's individual situation. A benefits counselor can help if this is a concern.
For the person receiving care: Being enrolled in the Home Help Program does not affect their Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security benefits.
Find out how many hours your family qualifies for
The authorized hours — and therefore your earnings — depend on how the assessment goes. We help families prepare so they get the hours they're actually entitled to.