If you’re caring for a family member with developmental disabilities or aging needs in Indiana, you might be eligible for structured family caregiving. This is a real Medicaid benefit that pays primary caregivers—usually a spouse, adult child, or parent—to provide unskilled daily care and support in a shared household. In other words, you can get paid for the caregiving work you’re already doing at home.
What Is Structured Family Caregiving in Indiana?
Structured family caregiving is a Medicaid-funded program that recognizes the value of family-based care. Instead of moving your loved one into a facility or hiring an agency, the state compensates you directly for being their primary caregiver.
The care you provide includes help with daily activities, meal preparation, personal hygiene support, medication reminders, community outings, and companionship. You’re not a nurse or therapist—you’re a family member stepping in to keep your loved one safe, healthy, and engaged in their home and community.
This approach aligns with what many families actually prefer: staying together, maintaining family routines, and avoiding institutional settings. Anointed Homes LLC and similar home-based care providers recognize this same philosophy—that life is better when people with disabilities stay embedded in the homes and neighborhoods they love.
Who Qualifies as a Caregiver?
To be eligible as a family caregiver under Indiana’s structured family caregiving program, you must meet a few key criteria.
- You live with the care recipient. This is non-negotiable. Structured family caregiving is built on the idea of shared household living.
- You are the primary, unpaid caregiver. This means caring for your loved one is your main responsibility day-to-day. You can work outside the home, but only if caregiving remains your priority.
- You have a personal relationship with the care recipient. You’re typically a spouse, adult child, parent, or other close family member—not a professional hired from an agency.
- Your loved one is a Medicaid waiver participant. They must qualify for and be enrolled in an Indiana Medicaid waiver program that covers family caregiver compensation.
Who Can Receive Care?
The care recipient must be someone who is Medicaid-eligible and enrolled in a qualifying waiver program. This typically includes:
- Elderly individuals (usually 65+)
- Adults with developmental disabilities
- Younger people with significant disabilities who meet medical and functional criteria
Your loved one doesn’t have to have a specific diagnosis. What matters is that they need daily support with activities of daily living (eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring) or instrumental activities (meal prep, housekeeping, transportation, money management).
How Much Can You Get Paid?
Structured family caregiving can provide up to $2,000 per month in compensation, depending on the level of care needed and program rules at the time of your application. Payment amounts vary based on your loved one’s assessed needs and local Medicaid policy.
This isn’t meant to replace your entire income—it’s recognition that you’re doing essential, skilled work that saves the state money and keeps your family intact. The exact amount you receive should be discussed during your application and reviewed as your loved one’s needs change.
Keep in mind that costs and payment rates vary by provider, caregiver qualifications, and individual circumstances. You’ll want to speak with experts like Anointed Homes LLC or contact Indiana’s Medicaid office directly to get a personalized quote and understand what your family might receive.
How to Apply for Structured Family Caregiving in Indiana
The first step is confirming that your loved one qualifies for a Medicaid waiver. If they don’t already have a case manager or aren’t enrolled in a waiver program, that’s where you start.
1. Contact your case manager or Indiana FSSA. Your loved one’s case manager (if they have one) can tell you if family caregiver compensation is an option. If your loved one isn’t connected to Medicaid services yet, reach out to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to learn about waiver programs.
2. Request a family caregiver assessment. Your case manager will evaluate your loved one’s care needs and your household situation to confirm eligibility.
3. Enroll through Paid.care. Indiana’s family caregiver program is administered through Paid.care. You or your case manager will help complete enrollment and set up direct payments.
4. Begin receiving payment. Once approved, you’ll receive monthly payments via direct deposit or check. Payments typically start within 30 days of final approval.
If you have questions about enrollment or eligibility details, you can call the program hotline. They can walk you through the exact steps for your family’s situation.
What Caregiving Duties Are Covered?
Structured family caregiving compensation covers unskilled, daily care and support. This includes:
- Helping with bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting
- Preparing meals and managing diet
- Reminding your loved one to take medications (not administering injections or medical procedures)
- Helping with mobility and transfers
- Housekeeping and laundry related to their care
- Shopping and errands
- Accompanying them to medical appointments and community activities
- Emotional support, conversation, and companionship
You are not providing nursing care, physical therapy, or medical procedures. If your loved one needs skilled nursing or therapy, those are handled by licensed providers—separate from family caregiver compensation.
Can You Work While Being a Structured Family Caregiver?
Yes, you can work outside the home. The program allows caregivers to have employment as long as caregiving for your loved one is still your primary role and responsibility.
This matters because many family caregivers are also breadwinners. You might work part-time, have flexible hours, or work from home to balance both roles. What the program requires is that you’re genuinely the main person your loved one depends on for daily care and support.
Why Choose Family Caregiving Over Facility Care?
There are real advantages to structured family caregiving:
- Your loved one stays home. They don’t have to adjust to a new building, new staff, or loss of independence.
- Continuity and trust. Family caregivers know your loved one’s habits, preferences, health history, and personality in ways that rotate staff can’t.
- Cost savings. Family caregiving is often less expensive than residential facilities, which benefits Medicaid and allows the program to serve more people.
- Financial recognition. You receive payment for the essential work you’re doing—it’s not purely volunteer labor.
- Community integration. Living at home makes it easier for your loved one to stay connected to their neighborhood, hobbies, friendships, and routines.
If you’re exploring options for your loved one, organizations like Anointed Homes LLC can also explain how residential habilitation and community-based care work so you can compare all your choices.
Important Things to Know Before You Apply
Eligibility varies by waiver program. Indiana has several different Medicaid waivers, and each has its own rules about family caregiver compensation. The waiver your loved one is enrolled in determines whether family caregiving is an option.
Verify current rules with Indiana FSSA. Program details, pay rates, and eligibility requirements can change. Don’t rely on outdated information—contact your case manager or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration directly to confirm what applies to your family right now.
You may need a background check. Many waiver programs require caregivers to pass a background screening, especially if your loved one is a minor or has significant vulnerabilities.
Payments are taxable income. Family caregiver compensation is considered earned income and may affect your taxes, benefits eligibility, or your loved one’s benefits. Consult a tax professional or your case manager about the tax implications.
Documentation matters. Keep records of the care you provide, any training you complete, and communications with your case manager. This protects both you and your loved one.
Next Steps
If you think structured family caregiving might work for your family, here’s what to do now:
1. Call the program hotline and ask if your loved one qualifies.
2. Contact your loved one’s case manager (if they have one) or reach out to Indiana FSSA to start the assessment process.
3. Gather information about your household, your loved one’s care needs, and your availability as a caregiver.
4. Be prepared to discuss what daily care looks like in your home and how family caregiving aligns with your loved one’s goals and preferences.
Keeping your loved one at home while receiving financial support is possible—but it requires the right program fit and clear communication with case managers and Medicaid staff. Start the conversation today.
People Also Ask
Is structured family caregiving the same as hiring a home care agency?
No. With structured family caregiving, you (a family member) are the paid caregiver. With a home care agency, you hire trained staff who come to your home. Agencies provide more flexibility if you work full-time elsewhere, but family caregiving keeps the care personal and keeps income within your family. Some families use both—a family member as primary caregiver plus agency support for respite or specialized needs.
Related: Respite Care for Disabled Adults in Indiana: A Family Guide
Related: In-Home Care for Developmental Disabilities in Indiana: Your Complete Guide
What if my loved one’s needs change?
Your care plan and payment amount can be adjusted. Work with your case manager to update your loved one’s assessment if their condition changes. If they need more or less support, the program can be modified. If they need skilled nursing or therapy, those services can be added alongside family caregiving.
Does structured family caregiving affect my loved one’s SSI or other benefits?
Family caregiver payments are made to you, not your loved one, so they typically don’t reduce their benefits. However, living arrangements and shared household income can affect some benefits. Talk to your case manager or a benefits counselor before applying to understand any potential impact on your loved one’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid eligibility.
Can I receive family caregiver compensation if I’m not related by blood?
Typically, no. Most waivers limit family caregiver compensation to relatives—spouses, adult children, parents, siblings, and sometimes grandparents. Non-relatives are usually hired through agencies. Check your specific waiver rules with your case manager, as policies vary.