Givers and Careforth are both legitimate Structured Family Caregiving providers that operate under state Medicaid programs across multiple U.S. states. Caregivers often choose Givers for its eligibility/program matching with a specialist and pay guarantee, while Careforth appeals to families who want personal coaching in the nine states it serves. Although they have similar core services, there are a few important differences between Givers and Careforth you need to know when deciding which is right for you.
Figures are 2026 and set by state programs; confirm current details with each provider.
State Availability: Givers vs. Careforth Comparison
Givers offers program matching and enrollment guidance in all 50 states. Both operate as Structured Family Caregiving providers in multiple states.
*Both Careforth and Givers operate in Connecticut under AFL.
Wherever you live, you can find out about your caregiver pay options by state or check your eligibility by answering a few simple questions.
Givers and Careforth pay up to $2000/month tax-free in SFC states in 2026. This tax-free stipend through Structured Family Caregiving programs is different from the taxable hourly rate of Personal Care Services. IRS Notice 2014-7 allows some in-home caregivers of adults with disabilities to exclude Difficulty of Care payments from their tax returns if the payment comes through a Medicaid program.
Caregivers paid for Personal Care Services privately, as an independent contractor, or sometimes through an agency, and not through an SFC program, don’t have a tax-free stipend. They have to report their earnings on their tax returns as part of their annual gross income.
Careforth and Givers both pay caregivers through Medicaid Structured Family Caregiving. Both Careforth and Givers pay a weekly stipend.
Your tax-free caregiver stipend depends on several factors like where you live and the level of care required by your loved one, and the state usually sets the minimum pay for SFC programs. It is not determined by Careforth or Givers.
Your care recipient needs to meet the clinical Level-of-Care (LOC) rules and enroll in Medicaid for you to receive a caregiver payment. You can do this through self-directed programs, also called consumer-directed care, that let your relative choose who serves as their caregiver. This can be a friend, relative, or neighbor, depending on the state and the program. In most SFC programs, you must live in the same home as your care recipient. Another option is to go through an agency such as Givers or Careforth.
Givers enrollment steps:
How does this play out? Here’s an illustrative example:
Francine cares for her mom in their Ohio home but is struggling financially. After hearing about Givers, she jumps onto the Givers website and completes the 60-second online check. She’s referred right away to an Ohio state case management agency. The case management agency conducts the enrollment process, including a screening call and in-home visit. While the SFC application is processed by the state, Francine undergoes a background check and completes virtual training. Once the application is accepted, a nurse visit is scheduled, and services start. Francine tracks paperwork progress and gets paid through the Givers app.
With Careforth, caregivers call the available number to reach a support team or complete an online form to begin the assessment. Processing time varies for each caregiver. Once their team reviews your application, you begin the enrollment process with the case management agency.
Looking for a Careforth alternative? If your state allows it, you can switch to Givers from another provider without a gap in pay. Givers works with your case manager to handle the transfer paperwork.
According to the AARP/NAC 2025 Report, only 11% of all caregivers have any formal training for caregiving tasks. Both Careforth and Givers provide that much-needed coaching.
Careforth has provided dedicated caregiver coaches to family caregivers for over 25 years. Their multidisciplinary, multilingual team helps caregivers develop a personal plan for their specific situation. Careforth also provides RN home visits and additional support. Careforth’s personalized coaching is its biggest strength.
Givers assigns a dedicated coach to every caregiver, and together they develop a comprehensive care plan trackable in the Givers app. Givers provides critical training and practical resources. Their expert care team includes both a social worker and a nurse experienced with the challenges of caregiving. Givers also schedules RN home visits and has earned 93% caregiver satisfaction.
The Givers vs. Careforth apps have major differences overall. The Givers app aids paid caregivers through practical financial tools, expert coaching, and easy tracking. The Givers app has over 1M+ hours of care monitored.
This is different from the Careforth app which focuses on everyday family caregiving coordination and support. Caregivers prefer the Givers app for its ease of use and practical features.
Givers and Careforth Comparison: Caregiver app
Givers is a great fit for most families.
Choose Givers if you:
Choose Careforth if you:
Before you choose, take that first step and confirm your eligibility. It costs nothing and lets you see right now if you can get paid for caregiving in your state.
Givers focuses on serving caregivers with lightning speed, reliable service, and unparalleled convenience. Both Givers and Careforth offer tax-free stipends and caregiver resources.
Givers fits most family situations, and Careforth is a better fit for family caregivers who live in states that Givers does not serve.
Careforth operates in nine states: Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and South Dakota, as well as in Pennsylvania through UPMC.
If your state allows provider transfers, Givers will coordinate the switch from Careforth to Givers to avoid any payment gaps. Givers will work with your case manager to complete the transfer paperwork and make switching as quick and easy as possible.
Both Givers and Careforth offer tax-free stipends up to $2,000/month in 2026, set by the state programs.
Your tax-free caregiver stipend depends on several factors like if you live with your relative, if your care recipient meets the LOC, and if your caregiver payment is through a qualified Medicaid SFC program. Speak with your enrollment specialist to see if you qualify for a tax-free stipend under the IRS Notice 2014-7 rule for Difficulty of Care payments before making any financial decisions.
Yes, your loved one must be on Medicaid. Givers and Careforth both provide tax-free stipends through Medicaid Structured Family Caregiving programs.
Givers is the only SOC 2-compliant Structured Family Caregiving agency in the country and is a Medicaid-licensed SFC agency available across multiple U.S. states. We have over 75 five-star caregiving review ratings on Google, and 93% of caregivers are very satisfied with their experience and ongoing support.
No. Givers provides financial tools, pay access, a secure chat, and training tracking, while the Careforth app offers SFC and medication management tools.
To see what’s right for you, check your eligibility for Givers, find out state program information, your estimated caregiver pay, and what you need to do next to get paid, in just a few minutes!
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