How much can I get paid to be a caregiver in California?

Family caregivers can earn up to $3,429/mo.

Can a family member get paid to care for me in California?

Yes, under programs like Structured Family Caregiving, Medicaid can pay family members who provide daily care.

Free tool

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California caregiver pay and support

Find a program that can help you care for a loved one.

See if you can get paid

275,000+

Families supported

93%

Caregiver satisfaction

★★★★★

5.0

Google rating · 50+ reviews

SOC2

HIPAA

Certified compliant

If you qualify

Get what you need to keep caring.

We help you focus on what really matters — you and your loved one.

Pay

We'll help you jump all of the hurdles into state programs that pay family caregivers. If qualified, you can earn up to

$3,429

/mo

Support

If enrolled you'll get a plan, licensed social worker, nurse, and hands-on training to provide the best care you can.

See if you qualify

The fastest path to caregiver pay and support in California

FIND SUPPORT NOW

Who are you caring for?

Check your eligibility

Answer a handful of questions without the clunky government websites.

Enroll in a program

We'll help you jump through the enrollment hurdles.

Meet your care team

Download the Givers app and get connected.

Document your daily care

Submit daily notes for proof of work and review.

Get supported and paid

Receive ongoing payment, coaching, and training.

We exist to make caregiving easier

See the Givers difference.

"I didn't know how I was going to do it. I was drowning in paperwork and couldn't afford to quit my job, but I also couldn't leave my dad alone. Givers made keeping my dad at home possible — and now I actually get paid for the care I was already providing."

Tawanna M.

Caregiver for her father ·

California

Caregiver Story

Meet Andrew and Charles

"I would tell anybody, if you love the person you're with, this is the best thing for them."

Caregiver Story

Meet Sabrina and Earling

"If you're going to go with someone, go with Givers because they're someone who cares."

Caregiver Story

Meet Nancy and Megan

"Without Givers, my daughter would not have been able to stay at home."

Caregiver Story

Meet Sharon and Susan

"It's like you're out there drowning, and then they throw you a lifeline."

Caregiver Story

Meet Melissa and Howard

"Just to have Givers on my side has meant everything to me."

Caregiver Story

Meet Shelby and Sharon

"When I'm talking to Givers, it feels like I'm talking to family."

Caregiver Story

Meet Kaitlyn and Judy

"I always wanted to be a nurse, and Givers helped me be a caregiver for my mother-in-law."

Caregiver Story

Meet Tawanna and Adam

"I didn't know how I was going to do it. Givers made keeping my dad at home possible."

Caregiver Story

Meet Heather and Koleen

"I get to spend quality time with my mom, without the stress of how we're going to make it."

Caregiver Story

Meet Kristopher and Enoch

"Givers helped my family get back on our feet after a house fire. If I didn't have Givers, I don't know how I would've handled it all."

Max Mayblum

CSA®

Updated

April 13, 2026

Published

April 13, 2026

Get paid through California Medicaid

Some states offer extra services through Medicaid waiver programs.

In California, these waivers let family members get paid for caregiving through Medicaid.

✓

CA AIDS Medi-Cal Waiver Program

The MCWP exists to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of individuals living with HIV or AIDS who are at risk of institutionalization or need assistance with activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living.

Learn more

✓

CA In-Home Supportive Services Waiver

The IHSS Waiver is a Medicaid program that allows eligible recipients to receive personal care and domestic services in their homes instead of being institutionalized in a nursing home or other facility. The program allows recipients to hire and supervise their caregivers, family members, friends, or other individuals.

Learn more

✓

CA Multipurpose Senior Services Program

The MSSP is a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver that provides an alternative to nursing facility care or hospitalization for individuals who meet specific criteria.

Learn more

✓

CA Home and Community Based Alternatives Waiver

Learn about the HCBA Waiver, assisting individuals with developmental disabilities and compensating family caregivers for their invaluable contributions.

Learn more

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CA HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities

The HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities is a Medicaid program that allows individuals to receive services in their own homes or other community settings instead of an institution. The program also allows individuals to choose their own service providers, including family, friends, or other qualified professionals.

Learn more

✓

CA Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for the Developmentally Disabled

The HCBS-DD is a program that was created to provide an alternative to an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID) or state developmental center placement for individuals who meet specific criteria and who are regional center consumers.

Learn more

✓

CA Paid Family Leave

This program offers partial wage replacement for California residents who have State Disability Insurance (SDI) through their employer and are caring for a seriously ill family member who requires care in a hospital, hospice center, or at home on a continuous basis.

Learn more

Check in 30 Seconds

Could you qualify for caregiver pay in California?

Answer 3 quick questions — no account needed.

Who do you care for?

How much can you earn as a caregiver in California?

Estimate your potential compensation based on your care level.

Daily stipend

$55–85/day

Weekly estimate

$385–595/wk

Monthly estimate

$1,650–2,550/mo

✓ Tax-free — you keep the full amount

Estimated PCS compensation for light care in

California

Hourly rate

$13/hr

Weekly estimate

$100–180/wk

Monthly estimate

$400–780/mo

Estimated PCS compensation for moderate care in Ohio:

Hourly rate

$13/hr

Weekly estimate

$180–360/wk

Monthly estimate

$780–1,560/mo

Estimated PCS compensation for intensive care in Ohio:

Hourly rate

$13/hr

Weekly estimate

$360–540/wk

Monthly estimate

$1,560–2,340/mo

See what you could earn →

Compare: Nursing home avg is

$12,407

/mo.

Enrollment made easy

The only app in the US to make enrollment quick and easy

Get a dedicated Enrollment Specialist, a clear game plan, and take action to enroll as quickly as possible

Start enrolling now

Steps to become a paid family caregiver through Medicaid

Use the Givers matching tool

Find programs in your zip code that offer caregiver pay options.

Work with case managers through enrollment

Determine care needs and eligibility for in-home care.

Complete program-specific requirements

Background check, health exam, trainings, or competency tests.

Provide care and document your work

Keep accurate records of caregiving tasks and hours.

Receive support and payment

Ongoing support and payment provided by Givers or your agency.

Key stats in California

· Source: AARP, 2026

6.4M

Family caregivers

6.1B

Hours spent per year

$149B

Annual unpaid care value

Why families choose Givers

See how getting paid through Givers compares to other options for caregiving in California.

Givers

Do it yourself

Nursing home

Monthly cost / pay

Earn up to

$3,429

/mo

$0 (unpaid)

$12,407

+/mo out of pocket

Enrollment help

✓ Full support

✕ Navigate alone

✕ Not applicable

Care stays at home

✓

✕ Facility-based

Coaching & training

✓ Dedicated team

Provided by facility

Ongoing support

✓ App + care team

Facility staff

Your loved one's comfort

✓ Home with family

✕ Unfamiliar setting

Costs to you

Free

Free (but unpaid)

$90,000+/year

See which program you qualify for →

Find Support Now

Can you get paid to care for your loved one?

Find out now

Get paid through Veterans Affairs

Veterans and surviving spouses have several options to pay family caregivers:

PCAFC

Up to $3,391/mo

Stipend + training for primary caregivers of veterans seriously injured in service.

Veteran Directed Care

$8–21/hr

Veterans hire family members as caregivers using a monthly care budget.

Aid & Attendance

Up to $3,845/mo

Covers care costs including family caregivers. VA pension + disability required.

Housebound Allowance

Up to $1,903/mo

For eligible veterans who are mostly homebound. Spouses cannot be paid.

Find your local VA →

Get support through the California Caregiver Resource Centers

The Division of Aging and local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) offer key services:

ℹ️ Information & referrals

🔄 Respite care

📋 Caregiver training

👥 Support groups

✅ Access to benefits

Find your local AAA in

California

→

FIND SUPPORT NOW

Who are you caring for?

Get tax credit for caregiving

Tax credits can help offset caregiving expenses:

Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCTC)

Up to $3,000 for one dependent or $6,000 for two or more.

Child Tax Credit (CTC)

Up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17.

Credit for Other Dependents (ODC)

Up to $500 per dependent (elderly parents, adult children with disabilities).

Additionally, California matches the federal tax credit up to 43%, which can equate to an extra $516 of tax savings per year.

Other ways to get paid as a family caregiver

Long-term care insurance

May allow funds directed to an informal caregiver.

Employer-sponsored caregiving leave

Some companies offer paid leave to care for loved ones.

Get paid by family

Create a formal personal care agreement for direct family compensation.

Know your caregiver rights and resources

CARE Act

Passed in 40+ states. Provides family caregivers with knowledge and skills for safe hospital transitions.

⊕

California

Respite Coalition

Statewide network supporting and promoting respite care services for family caregivers.

Frequently asked questions about caregiving in California

How much can I get paid as a caregiver in California?

In California, family caregivers can earn up to $3,429 per month through Medicaid waiver programs. Compensation varies by program type — Personal Care Services pays a taxable hourly rate, while Structured Family Caregiving (available in 13 states) pays a tax-free daily stipend. For veterans' caregivers, compensation ranges from $8-21 per hour through the Veteran Directed Care program, or up to $3,391-3,845 per month through PCAFC or Aid & Attendance. Check what you could earn with our free calculator ↑

Who qualifies to get paid as a caregiver in California?

Family members who are caring for a loved one that requires support with activities of daily living such as bathing, cooking, and transportation, can qualify to get paid as caregivers. In California, the person receiving care must meet a nursing home level of care to be eligible to receive paid care in the home from a family caregiver. Depending on the program, family caregivers may be required to live in the same home as their loved one and/or not work outside of caregiving in order to qualify.

Do I have to be related to the person I am caring for?

While every program has different rules, generally yes, you must be related by blood or marriage to the person you are caring for to get paid as a caregiver in California. In certain circumstances some programs allow for close friends or neighbors to act as the caregiver.

Can a spouse be paid as a caregiver in California?

Spouses are allowed to get paid as family caregivers in certain circumstances in California.

Is there "CDPAP" in California?

CDPAP stands for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, a program that allows family members to get paid for providing personal care services to their loved one. While such programs have different names in every state, California does in fact have programs that pay family caregivers. See if you're eligible

What services does Givers provide?

Givers offers a free interactive tool to match you with caregiver pay and support programs for which you might be eligible in your zip code.

If you qualify for a program that Givers serves, we help you and your loved one with the administration involved in getting enrolled. Once you and your loved one is enrolled, you are required to work with a licensed agency to document your work, get supported, and get paid as their caregivers. Givers can serve as your licensed agency in some states to help you easily meet all requirements.

Even if you don't qualify for a program that Givers serves, we still provide education and resources for you to get in contact with the correct agency and for you to find your way to support. Just fill out this form to get started.

Is Givers really free?

Yes, Givers is really free! Our support is covered by government programs and health insurance.

Is Givers legit?

Givers is Medicaid-licensed Structured Family Caregiving agency available across the US. We have over 50 five star reviews on Google, 93% of caregivers are very satisfied with Givers, and our program has been proven to reduce hospitalizations and caregiver stress. As the only SOC2 compliant Structured Family Caregiving agency in the country, we are the leader in the security and privacy of your information.

How does Givers ensure the privacy and security of my personal information?

At Givers, we take your privacy and security seriously. We are committed to being HIPAA and SOC2 compliant, adhering to stringent standards for protecting sensitive patient health information. Our policies and procedures are designed to ensure that your personal information is handled with the utmost care and confidentiality, using secure technologies and practices. We continuously monitor and update our systems to safeguard your information, giving you peace of mind that your data is in safe hands.

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