A free resource for Michigan veteran families
Michigan's Home Help Program for Veterans and Their Families
Michigan Medicaid can pay a family member to provide in-home care for an aging veteran or surviving spouse — even when VA caregiver programs aren't an option.
Last verified: July 21, 2026 · Next review: September 19, 2026
I'm Eddy Beyne — a Marine Corps combat veteran. I lost both of my parents while they were on Medicaid, and they never knew this program existed. I built Home Help Navigators so no Michigan family — especially the families of those who served — misses out on help that's already there for them.
Eddy Beyne
Founder · U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran
When VA caregiver programs say no, Michigan may say yes
The VA's caregiver programs — PCAFC and PGCSS — help many families, but their eligibility rules are narrow. PCAFC generally requires a serious service-connected condition with a high disability rating, and PGCSS provides support services rather than pay. Many families caring for an aging veteran simply don't qualify for either.
Michigan's Home Help Program is different. It's a Michigan Medicaid benefit — no service connection required. If the veteran (or surviving spouse) is on Medicaid and needs help with daily activities, an adult child, grandchild, or other relative can be paid to provide that care at home — $18/hour through our agency arrangement(the state's own 2026 individual rate is $17.13/hour) — with monthly hours set by the state's task-by-task assessment. The one exception: a spouse can't be the paid caregiver (a federal Medicaid rule).
Who this helps
Aging veterans on (or eligible for) Medicaid
Veterans who need help with daily activities — bathing, dressing, meals, mobility — and are enrolled in Michigan Medicaid or could be.
Surviving spouses of veterans
A surviving spouse on Medicaid can have an adult child, grandchild, or other loved one paid to provide their in-home care.
Veteran families already providing unpaid care
Many military families are already doing this work quietly and without pay. The Home Help Program can compensate the family member providing the care.
VA caregiver programs vs. Michigan Home Help
A plain-English comparison. Program rules change — confirm current VA details at caregiver.va.gov or with a VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.
| Program | Who's eligible | Who can be paid | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA PCAFC (Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers) | Veterans with a service-connected condition rated 70% or higher, enrolled in VA health care, who need at least 6 months of continuous in-person care | One designated primary family caregiver (a spouse can be paid) | Through the VA (caregiver.va.gov, VA Form 10-10CG) |
| VA PGCSS (General Caregiver Support Services) | Caregivers of veterans of any era who are enrolled in VA health care | No one — this program provides training, respite, and support, not a stipend | Through a VA Caregiver Support Coordinator |
| VA Pension with Aid & Attendance | Wartime-era veterans and surviving spouses on (or eligible for) VA pension who need help with daily activities | No one directly — it's extra monthly pension income the household can spend on care, including paying a family caregiver (keep it documented) | Through a VSO (VFW, American Legion, and DAV service officers file these free) or va.gov |
| Michigan Home Help Program | Michigan residents on Medicaid (any age) who need help with daily activities — no service-connected disability required | An adult child, grandchild, other relative, friend, or neighbor — not a spouse (federal Medicaid rule) | Through the county MDHHS office — referral by phone, mail, fax, or in person |
Can you stack them?Yes — and this is where families need good advice. Michigan's own eligibility manual (BEM 503) excludes the Aid & Attendance portion of a VA payment from Medicaid's income andasset tests — so A&A doesn't automatically break Medicaid eligibility, though the base pension underneath it does count. One trap worth knowing: the MI Choice waiver doescount A&A in its income test even though regular Medicaid doesn't (BEM 106). How it nets out depends on the household — we untangle the Medicaid side on a free call, and the VA side is what service officers are for.
And one more myth to put down: enrolling in Medicaid Home Help does not reduce the veteran's VA benefits. Disability compensation is service-based, VA health care is unaffected by Medicaid, and Home Help pays the caregiver — it isn't income to the veteran. The one nuance: VA pension with A&A is means-tested against out-of-pocket care costs, so a cost Medicaid now covers is no longer “unreimbursed” in the pension math — worth a five-minute review with your service officer at the next renewal.
What enrollment looks like for a veteran family
A veteran family goes through the same five steps as any family — Michigan Medicaid first, a referral to the county MDHHS office, the state's home assessment, caregiver enrollment in CHAMPS, then care begins. The full walk-through lives in our complete guide's application timeline. Three things veteran families specifically should know:
- 1
A VA medical provider can sign the medical needs certification. MDHHS policy (ASM 105) explicitly accepts VA medical providers — the VA's 10-10M Medical Certificate satisfies the requirement. If the veteran gets care at a VA clinic, you don't need to find an outside doctor; the provider they already see can complete the form.
- 2
VA income has Medicaid nuances. Disability compensation and base VA pension generally count toward Medicaid's income rules — but Michigan excludes the Aid & Attendance portion from both the income and asset tests (BEM 503). Some veteran households that look “over income” actually qualify. Don't self-reject; check.
- 3
Surviving spouses use the same door. The program isn't veteran-specific — it's Medicaid — so a surviving spouse on Medicaid qualifies on their own, and an adult child or grandchild can be their paid caregiver.
The honest numbers, from our complete guide: the state's 2026 individual caregiver rate is $17.13/hour, and caregivers enrolled through Home Help Navigators earn $18/hour under our agency arrangement. Hours are set by the state's task-by-task assessment (179.59 hours/month is a review threshold, not a cap), there's no waitlist, the state must decide within 45 days, and once approved, payment can reach back to the application date for periods when the caregiver was already enrolled and providing care.
Free download · PDFThe assessment decides the hours. Our Assessment Prep Worksheet — a one-week care log with ADL prompts — is the best way to walk in prepared. Print it, share it, or link to it.
Questions veteran families ask us
Will this reduce my VA disability or pension payments?
No. Home Help is Michigan Medicaid paying a caregiver — it doesn't reduce VA disability compensation or VA health care, and it isn't income to the veteran. One nuance for pension families: Aid & Attendance is means-tested against out-of-pocket care costs, so mention the Home Help enrollment to your service officer at the next pension renewal.
My spouse cares for me. Can she be paid?
Not through Home Help — a federal Medicaid rule excludes spouses. But if you qualify for the VA's PCAFC program, the VA can pay a spouse caregiver — we'll tell you which door fits your situation. Aid & Attendance pension can also raise the household income a spouse-caregiver family lives on.
I was denied PCAFC. Does that hurt my Home Help chances?
Not at all. Different program, different rules — Home Help doesn't require a service-connected condition, a disability rating, or any VA involvement.
Does the veteran need a service-connected disability?
No. Age, illness, injury — if the person is on Michigan Medicaid and needs help with daily activities, the program applies. Service history isn't part of the test.
We have TRICARE For Life, Medicare, or VA health care — does that matter?
Home Help specifically requires Michigan Medicaid — VA health care, Medicare, and TRICARE For Life are separate systems, and all of them can coexist with it. Many veteran households qualify through the SSI-related Medicaid categories — worth checking even if you assume you're over the limits.
Can my dad's caregiver be his buddy from the post, not family?
Yes. Friends and neighbors qualify the same as relatives — same background screening, same CHAMPS provider enrollment.
Is there a waitlist like MI Choice?
No. Home Help is an entitlement under Michigan's Medicaid state plan — if the person qualifies, they receive it. That's why it's often the bridge while a family waits on a MI Choice waitlist.
Who do I call about my other VA benefits?
Start with 1-800-MICH-VET — the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency's front door — or sit down with an accredited service officer: VFW, American Legion, and DAV service officers file claims free of charge.
Veteran resources we trust
When a family we're helping has an unfiled VA claim, we send them to a service officer. Home Help is one benefit — these people help you claim the rest:
1-800-MICH-VET · Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (michigan.gov/mvaa) — the front door to every Michigan veteran benefit — one call routes you to the right program
VFW Department of Michigan service officers (vfwmi.org) — free, accredited claims help — the VFW Service Office is at the VA Regional Office in Detroit
American Legion Department of Michigan (michiganlegion.org) — accredited service officers statewide through its Veteran Services Division
DAV Department of Michigan (dav.org) — claims and appeals counseling for disabled veterans — at no cost
County Veteran Service Offices (michigan.gov/mvaa) — all 83 Michigan counties are served by county veteran service offices funded through the state's County Veteran Service Fund — benefit counselors close to home
VA Caregiver Support Line (caregiver.va.gov) — 1-855-260-3274 — for PCAFC and PGCSS questions
How our free service works
The full walkthrough lives on our How It Works page. The short version:
- 1
Free consultation
Tell us who you care for and where you live in Michigan. We review your situation on a quick, no-pressure call and answer your questions — no cost, no obligation.
- 2
We handle all the paperwork
This is the part that stops most families. Our team takes care of every form and every step, start to finish. It's 100% free to your family.
- 3
Your family member gets paid $18/hr
Once set up, the caregiver is paid $18/hour to care for your loved one at home — often for care they're already providing.
Wondering if your family qualifies?
No forms required to start — a free phone conversation is enough to find out.
Prefer to write first? Send us a message.
Veteran-owned business. Free to families. We are not affiliated with the VA or MDHHS.