Getting paid to care for a family member in Illinois
Depends.
In Illinois, whether a family member can be paid depends on the program's rules, which are below with their sources. Whether a spouse can be paid depends on the program.
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Medicaid waiver
Community Care Program In-Home Service
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Who qualifies
People 60 or older who live in Illinois, are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, have non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less (a home, car and personal furnishings are exempt), are at risk of nursing facility placement as measured by the Determination of Need (DON) assessment, and apply for Medicaid and enroll if eligible.
Depends.
It depends on the provider agency. In-Home Service providers in the Community Care Program may choose to hire any family member who meets qualifications, passes a background check, completes 24 hours of pre-service training and agrees to be supervised by the provider. Not all providers employ family members as home care aides.
Your Care Coordination Unit will discuss the options with you, and you can change your mind at any time.
Depends.
It depends on the provider agency. The Department on Aging says In-Home Service providers may choose to hire any family member, including a spouse, on the same conditions as other family members.
Depends.
It depends on the provider agency. Providers may also choose to hire a legal guardian, a Power of Attorney or a representative payee who meets the same conditions.
People under 60 at the time of application (unless in the AIDS or Brain Injury Medicaid waiver) with a significant disability lasting 12 months or longer, who are at imminent risk of nursing facility placement, have a decision on Medicaid eligibility, need home services costing no more than nursing facility care, meet the asset limit and score the required points on the Determination of Need (DON). Customers select, employ and supervise their own Individual Providers.
Depends.
Under limited circumstances. The Department's customer guide says a relative may be able to be paid to provide services, but spouses are not allowed, and neither are parents, legal guardians, foster parents or stepparents of a customer under 18, or children under 18 caring for a parent.
Community Care Program services are coordinated by local Care Coordination Units (CCUs). Find your local CCU with the Department on Aging's map tool, or call the Senior HelpLine below.
Use the online Rehabilitation Services Web Referral to refer yourself or someone else. Services are provided through 47 local offices: use the DHS Office Locator to find the nearest Rehabilitation Services office, or call the toll-free number below.
