How to Get Paid to Take Care of a Family Member in Georgia

In Georgia, the main way to get paid to take care of a family member is Structured Family Caregiving (SFC), a Medicaid service for a relative who lives with the person they care for. SFC is part of Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP). A provider agency supports the caregiver and handles the pay.

SFC is not the only route. Families of veterans may qualify for VA caregiver programs. Some Medicaid and non-Medicaid programs let the person needing care hire their own helper. Some long-term care insurance policies may also pay a relative.

This guide walks through each route, who it fits, and the first call to make.

Paid family caregiving in Georgia at a glance

• Main Georgia route: Structured Family Caregiving, through the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program
• Who pays: Georgia Medicaid, through an approved SFC provider agency
• Key rule: the caregiver lives in the same home as the person who needs care
• For veterans: VA caregiver programs, including Veteran-Directed Care in parts of Georgia
• Not a route: Medicare does not pay for long-term personal care at home
• First call: Georgia's Aging and Disability Resource Connection, 866-552-4464, option 2

Who can get paid to care for a family member in Georgia?

It depends on two things: the program your loved one qualifies for, and where you live. Georgia's Division of Aging Services says some state programs let family members receive payment. It names Structured Family Caregiving and Support Options. Each route has its own rules.

SFC is the route built around a relative who already lives with the person and gives daily care. The other routes suit different situations.

Who cannot be paid as an SFC caregiver?

A spouse cannot be the paid SFC caregiver, and neither can a legal guardian. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities explains that people who are legally responsible for the member are excluded. We cover the options for married couples in Can a Spouse Be Paid as a Caregiver in Georgia?.

How does Structured Family Caregiving pay a relative?

Under SFC, Georgia Medicaid pays an approved provider agency. The agency supports the family caregiver and pays them. At A1-GA Healthcare Agency, SFC caregivers are paid by direct deposit every two weeks; the amount is set by the loved one's assessed level of care.

The state's Community Care fact sheet describes SFC as support for people who live with and assist an older or disabled participant. That participant must need significant help with daily activities.

The caregiver does not work alone. A health coach from the provider agency checks in by phone or online. The caregiver keeps daily notes about the member's condition and any changes. DCH set out this model when it added SFC to the waiver, in its Structured Family Caregiving waiver notice.

For the full SFC rules, see our guide to Structured Family Caregiving in Georgia. For how the amount is worked out, read How Is Structured Family Caregiving Pay Set in Georgia?.

Can I get paid if I don't live with my loved one?

SFC requires the caregiver to live in the home. If you live elsewhere, other routes may still fit.

Consumer-directed personal support under EDWP

The DCH EDWP fact sheet lists consumer-directed personal support services. Under this option, the member hires and supervises the workers they choose. A financial management services provider handles payroll and taxes.

The fact sheet does not say whether a relative can be the hired worker. The rules on who may be hired come from the program. Ask your loved one's EDWP care coordinator before you count on it.

Support Options

Georgia's ADRC FAQ also names Support Options. It describes it as a consumer-directed program that is not funded by Medicaid. Availability varies by area. Call 866-552-4464 and choose option 2 to ask about it.

What if my loved one is a veteran?

The VA has two programs that can pay a family member.

• Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The VA program page says the caregiver must be at least 18. They must be a family member, or live with the veteran full time. The veteran needs a qualifying VA disability rating and ongoing in-person personal care. The primary caregiver can receive a monthly stipend, plus training, counseling and respite. The veteran and caregiver apply together on VA Form 10-10CG.
• Veteran-Directed Care. The veteran gets a flexible budget and hires their own aides. The VA's program sheet says those aides can include a family member or neighbor. In Georgia, the Administration for Community Living lists partnerships with the Atlanta, Dublin and Augusta VA medical centers. Availability depends on the veteran's VA medical center.

A veteran may also qualify for Georgia Medicaid. In that case, ask about SFC as well.

Can long-term care insurance or a family agreement pay me?

Sometimes. USA.gov notes that some long-term care insurance policies pay family caregivers. It advises getting the insurer's answer in writing. The Administration for Community Living explains that these policies can pay for help at home with daily activities like bathing and dressing. Each policy sets its own rules on who can be paid.

Some families pay a relative from the loved one's own savings. Be careful if Medicaid may be needed later. Georgia's DFCS ABD Medicaid fact sheet warns that money or property given away before applying can lead to a penalty. Put any arrangement in writing, and ask an elder-law attorney first.

How do I start getting paid as a family caregiver in Georgia?

The first steps are the same for most families. Start early, because EDWP often has a waitlist.

1. 1

   Confirm Medicaid status

   Find out if your loved one has Georgia Medicaid. If not, the application goes through the county DFCS office.

2. 2

   Call the ADRC

   Dial 866-552-4464 and choose option 2. A counselor can explain which programs serve your area.

3. 3

   Ask for the EDWP screening

   The screening looks at your loved one's needs and how urgent they are. It sets their place on the waitlist.

4. 4

   Name SFC if you live together

   Tell the assessor that a relative lives in the home and gives care, so SFC can be considered.

5. 5

   Choose a provider

   Once services are approved, you choose an approved SFC or personal support provider.

Gather your loved one's Medicaid card or case number, a list of medications, and the doctor's contact details. Note who lives in the home. Those details come up early.

How A1-GA Healthcare Agency helps

A1-GA Healthcare Agency is a Georgia DCH-approved Medicaid home care provider in Norcross, serving metro Atlanta. We have provided in-home care since 2008, and staffed caregivers since 2004. We offer Structured Family Caregiving and EDWP in-home services.

If you live with a loved one and care for them every day, call us. We will explain whether SFC may fit, what the caregiver's role involves, and what to expect next. If another route suits your family better, we will tell you.

• Phone: 678-446-1832
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
• Email: info@gahac.com
• Office: 4505 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite K, Norcross, GA 30092
• Quick check: fill in our eligibility form or visit our eligibility page