States That Pay Parents to Care for a Disabled Child (2026–2027)

Most states now have at least one Medicaid path that can pay a parent for extraordinary care — the extra bathing, overnight supervision, skilled tasks, or habilitation a child needs because of a disability, not typical parenting. The authority might be a 1915(c) waiver, a 1915(j) or 1915(k) personal-care option, an 1115 demonstration, Katie Beckett / TEFRA eligibility plus self-direction, or a parent CNA / family home health aide license. Rules moved again in 2025 and 2026: some states made pandemic flexibilities permanent, a few closed parent-pay, and several launched new family aide programs.

This 2026–2027 field guide covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia. State notes are synthesized from the Kids' Waivers Paid Parent Caregiving compilation (updated June 2026) and each state’s program list . Kids' Waivers is the most complete public source; it is still incomplete in a few states, and Medicaid language changes. Treat this as a research map, then verify with your state Medicaid or developmental disabilities agency before you apply.

Paid.care works with families in Indiana , Michigan , and Illinois . If you live in one of those states, we can help you match the pathway and start eligibility.

How parents get paid

Katie Beckett / TEFRA options use the child’s income for Medicaid eligibility. That is not the same as paying the parent. 1915(c) HCBS waivers fund home services instead of an institution and sometimes name parents as providers. 1915(j) and 1915(k) authorities and 1115 demonstrations often power self-direction. Family home health aide, parent CNA, licensed health aide, and nurse-parent programs pay for skilled or unskilled tasks after training or licensure. Structured family caregiving and some pilots pay a daily or weekly stipend instead of an hourly wage.

“Extraordinary care” is the phrase most states use. It means help a parent would not typically give a child the same age without a disability, written into the plan, and needed to keep the child healthy and out of an institution. Many states also cap hours (often 40 per week), require an agency employer, or bar the parent from also being the employer of record.

2026–2027 snapshot

Status is about parents of minors being paid for personal, attendant, habilitative, or skilled care — not whether the state has any family-caregiver program for adults. “Limited” means a narrow waiver, hour cap, stipend, or special-circumstances test. “Unclear” means Kids' Waivers has no paid-parent write-up yet.

What changed heading into 2026–2027

• New or expanding parent-aide paths: Maine’s Family Home Health Aide (implementation in 2026), Illinois parent CNA (expected 2026), New Jersey Family HHA, Massachusetts Complex Care Assistant, Florida Family HHA, Nebraska LRI personal care on all waivers (July 2025), and Oklahoma HTS for legally responsible people (February 2025).
• Closed or paused: Idaho ended its broader parent personal-care program in July 2025 (nurse-parents remain). Indiana again pays parents for extraordinary-care Attendant Care, and Structured Family Caregiving never stopped paying parents. Arizona paused rules that would have limited extraordinary attendant care (October 15, 2025).
• Still not live: New York’s Complex Care Assistant bills, Washington’s feasibility study, Illinois’s longer-range Family Health Aide build, and Georgia’s unconfirmed NOW/COMP continuation.

Jump to a state

Each section is a short summary plus links back to Kids' Waivers for waiver names, ages, and source documents.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

State-by-state paid parent caregiving

Summaries below are original Paid.care write-ups based on Kids' Waivers (June 2026 compilation) and that state’s program page. Confirm eligibility with the state before you apply or leave a job.

Alabama

Alabama’s Personal Choices program gives waiver participants a monthly allowance they can spend on services, including some paid family caregiving. Kids' Waivers reports this path is available across Alabama waivers and is believed to let parents of minors be paid through a 1915(j) state plan amendment. Confirm with Alabama Medicaid before you assume a parent can be the paid worker.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Alabama program list .

Alaska

As of September 2024, Alaska amended its Children with Complex Medical Conditions, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Individual Supports waivers so a parent or guardian of a minor can be paid for In-home Supports or Supported Living. The cap is 40 hours in a seven-day period, no matter how many waiver participants that parent is legally responsible for. The work has to be habilitative, written into the support plan, and beyond what a parent would typically do for a child the same age without a disability. The state also requires either a shortage of qualified providers at the needed times, or unique skills the parent has that other providers do not.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Alaska program list .

Arizona

Arizona has two main paths. The Licensed Health Aid program lets parents who complete an LHA certificate be paid for medically complex children, including kids with trachs or feeding tubes. Separately, as of February 2024, parents of minors can be paid for attendant care and habilitation when the work meets the state’s “extraordinary care” definition, limited to 40 hours per week per child. Rules that would have narrowed this option were paused on October 15, 2025. Parents of adults 18+ can be paid up to the approved maximum. Families also report that nurse-parents can be paid. Raising Voices Coalition tracks Arizona policy changes.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Arizona program list .

Arkansas

Kids' Waivers does not currently document a paid-parent caregiving pathway in Arkansas. The state does run a TEFRA-like 1115 program (child-only income, sliding-scale family fee), a Community and Employment Support waiver, and an Autism Waiver for ages 1–7. Those programs can open Medicaid or waiver services — they are not the same thing as hiring a parent as the paid caregiver. Ask Arkansas DHS and Disability Rights Arkansas whether any self-direction or extraordinary-care option pays a legally responsible parent.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Arkansas program list .

California

Most California parents who get paid do it through In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) under a 1915(j) authority. Nurse parents can also be paid for RN, LPN, or LVN care through the Medicaid state plan. On the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver, a legally responsible parent may be paid for waiver personal care or paramedical services if they left or cannot take full-time work because of the child’s care, no other suitable provider is available, and the child would otherwise risk out-of-home or inadequate care. Another adult has to sign timesheets. California also has a Family Certified Home Health Aide option for unskilled tasks on that same HCBA waiver.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · California program list .

Colorado

Colorado’s Parent CNA program lets a parent or guardian become a certified nursing assistant and be paid for care that can include tube feedings. The child must be on Medicaid through a waiver, categorical eligibility, or the Medicaid buy-in. In-Home Support Services and Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services can also pay parents for personal care. Department of Public Health materials on the Parent CNA path have not always stayed posted — ask the county case manager if the public page is down.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Colorado program list .

Connecticut

Connecticut approved paid family caregiving on its three developmental disability waivers in 2023. Parents of school-age children can be paid for in-home supports, respite, individualized day, personal supports, and/or senior supports with a combined cap of 800 awake hours per year, plus a prior-approval exception process. An extraordinary-care assessment has to show the child needs more help than a typical child the same age. Legal guardians have a higher combined cap of 2,100 awake hours. Connecticut’s 1915(k) personal-care option can pay other family members, but guardians and legally responsible individuals are not eligible on that authority.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Connecticut program list .

Delaware

Delaware’s Medicaid demonstration waiver lets parents, guardians, and other family members be paid for personal care for children. Parents can work up to 40 hours per week, and another adult must be responsible for and sign the paperwork.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Delaware program list .

District of Columbia

Kids' Waivers has no paid-parent caregiving information for D.C. The District does run a Katie Beckett / TEFRA program that bases Medicaid on the child’s income only. That can unlock coverage; it does not automatically mean a parent can be the paid attendant. Ask the Department of Health Care Finance and Advocates for Justice and Education whether any personal-care or self-direction option hires a legally responsible parent.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · District of Columbia program list .

Florida

Florida created a Family Home Health Aide for Medically Fragile Children program. After training, a parent can be paid for complex skilled work such as tube feedings and trach care. A 1915(j) amendment also lets parents of minors on the iBudget Waiver or categorical Medicaid be paid for self-directed personal care. Families report that nurse-parents can be paid as well. Agency for Health Care Administration and Sunshine Health publish program details.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Florida program list .

Georgia

Georgia extended pandemic-era GAPP rules as of November 15, 2024 through its Healthy Babies 1115 demonstration. Legally responsible family caregivers can be paid for medically necessary personal care if they meet direct-care worker qualifications, agency oversight, and prior authorization — and the child needs nursing and/or personal care under GAPP. Kids' Waivers still lists New Options and Comprehensive Supports waiver parent-pay as unconfirmed. Do not assume NOW/COMP pays a parent until the state posts it.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Georgia program list .

Hawaii

Kids' Waivers has been told some Hawaii programs exist, but the I/DD HCBS waiver language says parents of minors cannot be paid. QUEST Integration and the Developmental Disabilities Division waiver can still open services for the child. Confirm any exception with the Developmental Disabilities Division before you plan on parent wages.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Hawaii program list .

Idaho

Idaho still allows parents who are nurses to be paid for their own children’s care. The broader program that reimbursed spouses and parents of minors for personal care ended in July 2025 after CMS approved Idaho’s request to close it. If you were on that PCS path, ask Medicaid what replaced it — nursing credentials are the documented remaining option.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Idaho program list .

Illinois

Illinois lets RN or LPN parents be paid for private duty nursing for minors and adults, on or off a waiver. Home Services Program waivers — Persons with Disabilities (DRS), Brain Injury, and HIV/AIDS — now allow parents to be paid for personal care to minor children, and parents can also be paid as CNAs, LPNs, or RNs when that level of care is authorized. A June 2024 law created a parent CNA path for children and adults on the MFTD Waiver or DSCC Home Care; Kids' Waivers expected implementation in 2026. A 2025 Family Health Aide law would add skilled and unskilled parent pay, but that build-out is expected to take years.

Paid.care helps Illinois families sort Community Care Program and related Home Services paths. Check eligibility .

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Illinois program list .

Indiana

Indiana once again pays parents for Attendant Care when their child's care needs are considered extraordinary. Structured Family Caregiving never stopped paying parents on the Health and Wellness Waiver, and it still pays a daily stipend. Parents can also be paid as a Family Home Health Aide, but each program needs a different parent as the caregiver. One caregiver cannot be paid through both programs, so one parent can do SFC while the other works as the aide. On the Family Supports Waiver, parents of minors can be paid for Participant Assistance and Care up to 40 hours per week when the care is extraordinary and the parent is hired through an agency.

Paid.care helps Indiana families with Structured Family Caregiving, Attendant Care, and Family Home Health Aide pay . Check eligibility .

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Indiana program list .

Iowa

As of June 2024, Iowa pays parents or guardians of minors and of adults on the AIDS/HIV, Brain Injury, Health and Disability, Intellectual Disability, and Physical Disability waivers. Covered services include Supported Community Living, Consumer Directed Attendant Care, and Consumer Choices Option (see Informational Letter 2588-MC-FFS). Iowa also added Medical Day Care for Children, which can pay parents of minors in the home when the child is medically fragile or has complex behavioral needs.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Iowa program list .

Kansas

Kansas made paid family caregiving permanent on the Technology Assisted Waiver. A legally responsible person can provide personal care up to 12 hours per day, and an LPN or RN parent can provide nursing up to 8 hours per day. Parents are capped at 40 hours per week and cannot work overnight respite. The Brain Injury and Physical Disability waivers also allow personal care by parents of minors or spouses when provider qualifications are met.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Kansas program list .

Kentucky

On the Home and Community Based Services, Michelle P., and Supports for Community Living waivers, parents or guardians may be paid for attendant care to minor children only in special circumstances — usually a specific skill set or no other care option. Parents are limited to 40 hours per week and must complete CPR and other training. Families also report that RN or LPN parents can serve minor children.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Kentucky program list .

Louisiana

Louisiana documentation supports paid family caregiving on the New Opportunities, Children’s Choice, and adult developmental disability waivers. Kids' Waivers reads the language as applying to parents of minors as well, though the waiver text is not perfectly clear. Each family caregiver can provide up to 40 hours per week and cannot also be the representative or employer. The Monitored In-Home Caregiving program pays a per diem to a caregiver who lives in the home.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Louisiana program list .

Maine

Maine created a Family Home Health Aide program so parents can be paid for home health care to minor children. Kids' Waivers reported implementation beginning in early 2026, to be written into MaineCare Benefits Manual Section 40. Nurse parents can already be paid for private duty nursing under Section 96 if they meet exceptional-circumstance tests — for example leaving or reducing paid work, taking unpaid leave, incurring substantial expense, or being needed because of a nursing shortage or intermittent hours.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Maine program list .

Maryland

On the Community Pathways Waiver, legally responsible parents or guardians can provide up to 40 hours a week of Community Development Services or Personal Supports, including some delegated nursing and nursing by an RN, LPN, or CNA parent. They cannot also be the participant’s Support Broker. The Autism Waiver application allows payment to a qualified legally responsible individual employed by a waiver provider for extraordinary Intensive Individual Support Services.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Maryland program list .

Massachusetts

Massachusetts created a Complex Care Assistant provider type so parents or guardians can be paid for personal care and some enhanced tasks such as tube feedings and oxygen delivery. RN or LPN parents can also be paid to care for their own children.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Massachusetts program list .

Michigan

Michigan’s Children’s Waiver and Waiver for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance do not pay legal guardians or relatives who are legally responsible for the child. Other relatives who meet provider rules can be paid for services such as community living supports or respite. The Habilitation Supports Waiver uses the same legally-responsible exclusion for parents of minors, spouses, and legal guardians, while other qualified relatives may provide listed services. Michigan Home Help — the path Paid.care uses most often in-state — generally cannot pay a parent of a disabled child under 18.

If you are a non-parent relative or the child is 18+, start with Michigan Home Help through Paid.care . Check eligibility .

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Michigan program list .

Minnesota

On CAC and CADI, nurse parents of minors can be paid for the lesser of 50% of approved nursing hours or eight hours per day, up to 40 hours per week. On CAC, CADI, DD, and BI waivers, parents of minors can be paid for personal care only through Consumer Directed Community Supports, with a family-wide cap of 40 hours in seven days no matter how many parents or children are on CDCS. Beginning October 1, 2024, Minnesota also pays parents of minors for personal care outside those waivers under a new paid personal care benefit.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Minnesota program list .

Mississippi

Mississippi paid some parent caregivers during the public health emergency. Updated waiver language no longer allows parents, guardians, or other legally responsible individuals to be paid caregivers.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Mississippi program list .

Missouri

Missouri’s waiver applications do not allow parents or guardians of minors to be paid for personal care. Ask the regional office whether any adult-only or non-parent relative option applies once the child turns 18.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Missouri program list .

Montana

Montana’s Pediatric Complex Care Assistant program pays parents or guardians for tube feedings, trach care, medications, and personal care for children on Medicaid. The DD waiver application allows parents or guardians of minors to be paid. On Big Sky, legally responsible people may provide personal assistance, specially trained attendant, homemaker, and homemaker chore — including line-of-sight or night supervision when a child the same age without a disability would not need it.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Montana program list .

Nebraska

As of July 2025, parents who qualify as legally responsible individuals can be paid for personal care on all Nebraska waivers when the care is extraordinary — more than typical parenting for a child the same age. The state publishes an LRI brochure, personal care summary, handbook, and a separate explanation of extraordinary care for DD waivers.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Nebraska program list .

Nevada

On the Physical Disabilities Waiver, legally responsible parents or guardians of minors may provide attendant care (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and some skilled tasks), limited homemaker hours, respite, and chore services when the case manager’s assessment supports it. Kids' Waivers has also received reports that Nevada will allow nurse-parents to be paid for minors — treat that as unconfirmed until the state posts it.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Nevada program list .

New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s Family Licensed Nursing Assistant program pays parents or guardians for personal assistance and limited skilled care, including tube feedings and medication administration — start with the home care agency. On the In-Home Supports Waiver for Children with Developmental Disabilities, a parent may be paid when the child needs ADL help, has complex medical needs, or has high behavioral needs, and either qualified in-home help cannot be found or the child’s care would immediately threaten the parent’s ability to keep a job.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · New Hampshire program list .

New Jersey

New Jersey approved a Family Home Health Aide program so parents or guardians can provide personal care and skilled tasks such as tube feedings, trach care, and medications. Implementation details were still being published as of the 2026 Kids' Waivers update. Some parents of minors already report being paid through the Personal Preference Program when the child is eligible for nursing or personal care.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · New Jersey program list .

New Mexico

On the Mi Via Waiver, biological or adoptive parents of participants under 18 (and spouses of adult participants) can be paid for most waiver services. They cannot be paid for transporting a minor, consultant services, customized group supports, or individual-directed goods and services. A parent of a minor, a spouse, or another legally responsible person cannot provide more than 40 hours in a seven-day period.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · New Mexico program list .

New York

On the OPWDD waiver, parents or guardians of adult children over 21 may provide personal care if they are not the designated representative. Under extraordinary circumstances they may provide respite or habilitation for participants 18+. Two bills would create a Complex Care Assistant program for medically fragile children; as of the June 2026 Kids' Waivers update those bills had not become a live parent-pay program. CDPAP rules for parents of minors are a separate, frequently changing topic — verify with the plan, not a national blog.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · New York program list .

North Carolina

CAP/C is the most complete child path. Nurse parents can be paid through Attendant Nurse Care and the Medicaid state plan. CNA/PNA-trained parents can be paid through an agency, or through consumer direction if they are not the employer of record. Coordinated Caregiving (from about November 2023) pays a live-in parent a stipend and is meant to replace some nursing or aide hours. Unused private duty nursing hours can sometimes convert to aide-level hours paid to a certified parent. Except for Coordinated Caregiving, parent pay usually requires extraordinary circumstances (no provider, isolation, 24-hour supervision, or specialized health needs) and is capped at 40 hours per week. The Innovations Waiver now lets parents of minors provide Community Living and Supports up to 40 hours per week (overtime case-by-case) if they meet Extraordinary Needs criteria.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · North Carolina program list .

North Dakota

North Dakota’s Family Paid Caregiver Pilot began April 1, 2024. It pays a lump sum five days per week — not a typical hourly attendant wage — on the Autism Spectrum Disorder Birth Through 17 Waiver, Children with Medically Fragile Needs Waiver, Children’s Hospice Waiver, and Traditional ID/DD Waiver.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · North Dakota program list .

Ohio

RN or LPN parents can be paid for home nursing. The Individual Options, Level One, and SELF developmental disability waivers and the Home Care Waiver allow parents or guardians of minors to provide personal care if they work for an agency, are the provider of last resort, and usually stay at or under 40 hours. Several lawsuits over Ohio’s parent-pay limits are pending; End Ohio’s Parent Penalty tracks that litigation.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Ohio program list .

Oklahoma

As of February 2025, Oklahoma can pay legally responsible individuals for non-residential Habilitation Training Specialist services on developmental disability waivers such as the Community Waiver and In-Home Supports Waiver for Children. “Parent” includes biological, adoptive, step, and foster parents, legal guardians of minors, and other legally responsible people. Services are limited to 40 hours per week. Families also report that nurse-parents can be paid for minors.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Oklahoma program list .

Oregon

Oregon’s Children’s Extraordinary Needs 1915(c) waiver (approved July 2024) pays parent caregivers for children under 18 with high medical or behavioral needs. Capacity was only 155 families, with up to 20 hours of attendant care from one parent or split between two. Parents of adult children 18+ can be paid on other services. If the CEN waiver is full, ask ODDS what the waitlist or alternative is.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Oregon program list .

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Family Home Health Aide program lets parents be paid as licensed home health aides for their own children. The child must be approved for nursing or personal care, and parents can provide unskilled care only. On the Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support, and Community Living waivers, parents or guardians may be paid for In-Home and Community Support, Life Sharing, and some transportation. Families also report that nurse-parents can be paid.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Pennsylvania program list .

Rhode Island

Kids' Waivers has no paid-parent caregiving write-up for Rhode Island. Children can get Medicaid through Katie Beckett (child-only income) and then home and community-based services through the Comprehensive Demonstration — including Personal Assistance Services and Supports, Home Based Therapeutic Services, home nursing, and respite. Ask RIPIN and EOHHS whether a legally responsible parent can be the hired PASS or nursing worker. Do not assume the answer is no just because the national page is blank.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Rhode Island program list .

South Carolina

Some waivers, including Head and Spinal Cord Injury, let family who are not legally responsible provide self-directed services. The Medically Complex Children Waiver does pay legally responsible parents of children up to age 21 for self-directed attendant care when the work is extraordinary — more than typical parenting and needed to keep the child out of an institution.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · South Carolina program list .

South Dakota

South Dakota waivers allow parent or guardian caregivers of adults to be paid for some personal care or habilitation. Parents of minors cannot be paid.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · South Dakota program list .

Tennessee

A small group in Employment and Community First CHOICES can receive a modest monthly stipend. Kids' Waivers treats that as closer to an SSI-style payment than true hourly paid parent caregiving. Ask TennCare if any other self-direction option has opened since the 2026 compilation.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Tennessee program list .

Texas

On the CLASS waiver, parents or guardians of minors may be paid for some non-self-directed services, including residential habilitation, respite, minor home modifications, and nursing — though some of those are limited to participants 17 and older. Families of children with complex needs also report parent pay when the child has approved home nursing, Medicaid, and Community First Choice. Kids' Waivers still marks that CFC path as incompletely documented.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Texas program list .

Utah

On the Waiver for Technology Dependent, Medically Fragile Individuals and the Medically Complex Children’s Waiver, parents or guardians can swap respite for attendant care and be paid for up to 13 hours per month. A 2023 law continued pandemic-era pay on the five DSPD waivers so spouses and parents of minors can be paid for 10–40 hours per week.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Utah program list .

Vermont

Parents or guardians of minors on Children’s Personal Care Services were paid during the pandemic, and Vermont continued that path with minor changes. Nurse parents can be paid for High Tech Nursing when the child needs home nursing, up to 12 hours per day or 40 hours per week.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Vermont program list .

Virginia

Virginia made pandemic parent-pay permanent on the Family and Individual Support, Community Living, and Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus waivers. Legally responsible individuals — parents or legal guardians of minors, or a spouse — may provide personal care only when it is extraordinary: above typical parenting for a child the same age, and needed because of the disability. Reimbursement is up to 40 hours per week, and if the parent is paid for more than one child they may receive up to 40 hours per week for each child.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Virginia program list .

Washington

Washington’s current waiver language excludes parents or guardians of minors from being paid. The state started a feasibility study in 2023; that is not a live parent-pay program. Children can still use DDA waivers, Community First Choice, and the Medically Intensive Children’s Program for services. Ask DDA whether any 2026–2027 amendment changed the parent exclusion.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Washington program list .

West Virginia

On the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Waiver, a legally responsible adult may only provide services identified on an Extraordinary Care Assessment at enrollment and each annual review. In self-direction (Personal Options), the same person cannot be both program representative and paid provider. Person-centered support is capped at 7,320 fifteen-minute units per plan year if the child is in public education, homeschool, or another education option, and 11,680 units if they are not. A spouse cannot provide person-centered support. Respite cannot be provided by a parent or step-parent who lives in the home.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · West Virginia program list .

Wisconsin

Parents or guardians of adult participants 18+ may be paid for some personal care and respite. Parents or guardians of minors may be paid for transportation only on the Children’s Waiver, and only in extraordinary circumstances.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Wisconsin program list .

Wyoming

Wyoming statute allows payment to legally responsible individuals. On the Supports and Comprehensive waivers, a biological, adoptive, or step parent (or other legally authorized representative) of a minor can be paid for personal care only when it is extraordinary. Typical tests include an Adaptive Behavior Quotient of 0.35 or lower on the ICAP plus ADL/IADL help beyond typical parenting, or a licensed clinician documenting specialized medical skills. Paid extraordinary personal care is generally capped at four hours per day unless the Extraordinary Care Committee approves more.

Source: Kids' Waivers paid parent caregiving · Wyoming program list .

How to use this guide

1. Open your state section and the matching Kids' Waivers program page. Write down the waiver or state-plan name, age limits, and whether parents of minors are named as providers.
2. Call the state Medicaid or DD agency (or the advocacy group listed on Kids' Waivers) and ask three questions: Can a legally responsible parent of a minor be paid? On which service code? What is the hour cap and who signs timesheets?
3. If the child is not on Medicaid yet, ask about Katie Beckett / TEFRA or a child-only income waiver first. Eligibility and parent-pay are separate decisions.
4. If you live in Indiana, Michigan, or Illinois, check eligibility with Paid.care . We will tell you which of our programs can actually hire a parent versus another relative.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 50 states pay parents to care for a disabled child?

No. A large majority have some path — often with extraordinary-care tests and hour caps — but several still bar legally responsible parents of minors, only pay parents of adults, only pay nurse-parents, or have no public documentation. Use the snapshot table, then the state section.

Is Katie Beckett the same as getting paid?

No. Katie Beckett / TEFRA can put a child on Medicaid using the child’s income. Getting paid is a separate provider or self-direction rule. Arkansas, D.C., and Rhode Island are examples where Kids' Waivers documents TEFRA-style coverage but not parent wages.

Can both parents get paid?

Sometimes, but many states set a family-wide hour cap (Minnesota CDCS is a clear example: 40 hours per week for the household). Oregon’s Children’s Extraordinary Needs waiver lets two parents split 20 attendant hours. Ask whether the cap is per parent, per child, or per family.

What if my state says “no information”?

That means Kids' Waivers has not confirmed a parent-of-minors personal-care rule — not that no program exists. Call the state and a protection-and-advocacy organization. Bring the waiver name from the Kids' Waivers state page.

Does Paid.care serve every state in this guide?

Not yet. We currently help families in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. This guide still covers every state so you can research locally and come back when we expand.

Next step: Check if you're eligible with Paid.care , read the Indiana Medicaid waiver resources , or browse all caregiver guides .