Structured Family Caregiving: How Family Members Can Get Paid to Care for Loved Ones at Home
If you’re caring full-time for a loved one and living under the same roof, you may be eligible to get paid through a Medicaid-funded program called Structured Family Caregiving (SFC). It’s available in select states and offers a daily, tax-free stipend for caregivers who provide help with daily tasks like bathing, meals, and medication reminders. You don’t need to be a nurse or have formal training. The person you’re caring for must be Medicaid-eligible and require support with basic activities of daily living.
Key Takeaways
- Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) is a Medicaid program that pays family caregivers a daily stipend
- You must live full-time with the person you’re caring for and help with daily tasks like bathing, eating, and medication
- Caregivers can be adult children, grandchildren, siblings, or other relatives, but usually not spouses
- Pay is a flat daily amount, not hourly, and is tax-free
- No nursing license is required, just compassion, commitment, and the ability to follow basic caregiving guidelines
- FreedomCare can help you find out if you qualify, guide you through the Medicaid process, and get you enrolled
- This program is available in select states like Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, and others
- SFC helps you continue caregiving without giving up your financial security or peace of mind
Caring for a loved one isn’t always planned. It often begins with a few errands here and there. A doctor’s appointment. A reminder to take medication. A meal dropped off after work. But slowly, the responsibility grows. Before long, you’re spending hours each day making sure your parent, sibling, or spouse is safe, fed, and cared for.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are unpaid caregivers for a loved one. And many are asking the same question: Is there a way to get paid for this care?
The answer might be yes, through a program called Structured Family Caregiving (SFC). Let’s walk through how it works, who qualifies, and how you can get started.
What Is Structured Family Caregiving?
Structured Family Caregiving is a Medicaid-funded program available in select states. It allows eligible family members who live with and care for a loved one full-time to receive a daily tax-free stipend as compensation.
This program recognizes what many of us already know, that family caregivers are essential. You provide meals, help with hygiene, manage medications, and offer companionship. SFC offers training, resources, and financial support so you can continue providing that care without sacrificing your own well-being.
Who Qualifies for Structured Family Caregiving?
Eligibility varies by state and Medicaid program, but in general:
Your loved one must:
- Be eligible for Medicaid
- Require help with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, or mobility
- Live with you (the caregiver) full-time
- Be enrolled in a Medicaid waiver that includes SFC
You (the caregiver) must:
- Be a family member such as a child, sibling, grandchild, or other relative (spouses may be excluded depending on the state)
- Live full-time with the person you’re caring for
- Not be employed by another home care agency to provide this care
- Complete any required training or background checks
In most cases, you don’t need to be a nurse or have medical training to qualify.
What Kind of Care Do You Provide?
Structured Family Caregiving typically covers non-medical care, the kind of support you’re probably already providing. This may include:
- Assisting with bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Meal planning and preparation
- Transportation to doctor appointments
- Medication reminders and help with organization
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Emotional support and companionship
- Safety monitoring, especially for those with dementia or mobility challenges
The core idea is that you’re helping your loved one stay safe, comfortable, and independent at home,instead of moving to a nursing facility.
How Does Payment Work?
Structured Family Caregiving programs typically offer a flat-rate, daily stipend. This amount can vary based on the level of care needed and the state you live in. In some cases, caregivers may receive $900 to $1,300+ per month, paid directly by the agency managing the program.
This payment is not hourly, and it’s tax-free because it’s considered a Medicaid benefit.
You’ll usually need to:
- Keep documentation of care provided
- Submit basic reports to the overseeing agency
- Participate in periodic check-ins or reassessments
But the administrative burden is generally light, especially if you’re working with an agency that handles the details for you.
Which States Offer Structured Family Caregiving?
Structured Family Caregiving is not available everywhere. It depends on your state’s Medicaid waiver programs and whether they’ve opted to include SFC.
States known to offer this model (or something similar) include:
- Georgia (Structured Family Caregiving through CCSP/SOURCE)
- Indiana
- Ohio
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
Note: This list may change as new states expand their home care programs. It’s best to contact a care agency like FreedomCare to find out if your state participates and if your family qualifies.
Do You Have to Quit Your Job?
That’s one of the most common concerns we hear. The short answer is: maybe. Structured Family Caregiving is designed for live-in, full-time caregiving. If your job allows you to work from home and remain available throughout the day, it might be possible to balance both.
However, many caregivers in this program find it’s easier to focus solely on caring for their loved one, especially when the person has higher needs.
The daily stipend helps offset the financial sacrifice, so you can care for your loved one without draining your savings or relying on unpaid time off.
What About Training and Support?
Most programs that offer SFC also provide caregiver training. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go back to school. These sessions are short, simple, and focused on real-life challenges you may face, such as:
- Preventing falls and injuries
- Managing medications
- Handling memory loss and dementia-related behaviors
- Communicating with healthcare providers
- Taking care of your own mental health
In many cases, you’ll also get access to a care coordinator or case manager who checks in regularly and helps you solve problems.
What Are the Benefits of Structured Family Caregiving?
Beyond financial relief, caregivers in this program report many emotional and practical benefits:
- Less stress from juggling unpaid caregiving and work
- Better care for your loved one at home
- Stronger relationships through shared time and trust
- More peace of mind knowing your care has support behind it
You’re not just making life better for someone you love, you’re making your own life more manageable, too.
How FreedomCare Helps Families Like Yours
At FreedomCare, we’ve helped thousands of families enroll in Structured Family Caregiving programs across the U.S.
If you’re unsure where to start, we can:
- Check your eligibility quickly and for free
- Help with paperwork and Medicaid enrollment
- Match you with the right Medicaid waiver or program
- Provide training and ongoing caregiver support
- Get you paid for the care you already provide, with compassion and respect
We’ve seen firsthand how life-changing it is when a daughter can stay home with her mother recovering from a stroke. Or when a grandson provides safety and dignity to his aging grandfather. These aren’t just stories, they’re everyday families finally receiving the support they deserve.
How to Get Started
If you think Structured Family Caregiving could be right for your situation, here’s what to do:
- Find out if your state offers SFC.
- Check if your loved one qualifies for Medicaid (or a waiver program).
- Contact a trusted agency like FreedomCare to begin the enrollment process.
- Submit any needed paperwork and complete training.
- Start receiving payment and support while continuing the care you’re already providing.
You Deserve to Be Supported, Too
Caring for a loved one is an act of love. But it shouldn’t come at the cost of your own health or finances. Structured Family Caregiving is one way to make sure you’re not doing this alone.
If you’re providing full-time care, and you live with your loved one, don’t wait to find out if you’re eligible. This program was made for people like you.
Contact FreedomCare today and see if you can start getting paid to care for the person you love.
