PAID CARE GUIDES & ARTICLES

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Guides & Articles

Navigating the Indiana Medicaid Waiver Application & Wait List

The FSSA now has a portal for those on the Pathways Waiver and Health and Wellness Waiver Waitlist to check and ensure they have the correct information listed and can be notified as soon as they are off the list!

Should You Quit Your Job to Become a Paid Family Caregiver?

Thinking about quitting your job to care for a parent? Run the numbers, understand the approval timeline, and know the hybrid options before you give notice.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 9/30/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 9/30/26

Balancing a Paid Caregiver Role With a Full-Time Job

Holding a job does not disqualify you from caregiver pay. Here's how to be a paid family caregiver while working, including hour rules, taxes, benefit impacts, and the specifics for Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 9/30/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 9/30/26

How to Ask Your Employer About Flexible Hours When You're Also a Paid Caregiver

A flexible work schedule for family caregivers is negotiated, not granted. Here's the step-by-step process for mapping your care hours, picking the right arrangement, writing the request, and handling the objections you'll actually hear.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26

Michigan Home Help Caregiver Eligibility: Who Qualifies to Get Paid for Home Care

Michigan Home Help caregiver eligibility runs through two doors: the care recipient must qualify, and so must you. Here's the step-by-step on who gets paid for home care and how.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26

Illinois Family Caregiver Qualification Steps for the Community Care Program

A step-by-step walkthrough of the Illinois family caregiver qualification process for the Community Care Program — from your loved one's eligibility and DON score to getting hired and paid.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26

How Quickly Can You Start Getting Paid After Caregiver Enrollment Approval

Most family caregivers get their first payment within two to four weeks of enrollment approval. Here's exactly how quickly you get paid after caregiver enrollment and what speeds it up.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 7/27/26

Indiana Caregiver Eligibility Requirements for Structured Family Caregiving in 2026

A step-by-step guide to Indiana caregiver eligibility for Structured Family Caregiving in 2026, covering waiver requirements, the live-in rule, documents, and how to get approved and paid.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 6/1/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 6/1/26

Social Security Credits for Family Caregivers: What You Are and Are Not Earning Right Now

Unpaid family caregiving earns zero Social Security credits, but paid caregiving does. Here's how social security caregiver credits actually work and how to start building them.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 6/1/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 6/1/26

How to Use Paid Leave for Family Caregiving When a State Program and a Medicaid Waiver Both Apply

Qualify for both a state paid leave program and a Medicaid waiver? You can stack them. Here's how to use paid leave for family caregivers alongside waiver pay without double-dipping or delaying a check.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 5/31/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 5/31/26

Family Caregiver Payment Programs Available in 2026

At least seven types of family caregiver payment programs are available in 2026, from Medicaid HCBS waivers to VA stipends and consumer-directed care. Here's how each one works, what they pay, and who qualifies.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 5/31/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 5/31/26

Caregiver Stipend vs. Caregiver Wage: What the Difference Means for Your Taxes

A caregiver stipend and a caregiver wage hit your tax return very differently. Here's how each payment type works, when the IRS Notice 2014-7 exclusion applies, and what family caregivers need to know before filing.

JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 5/28/26 JR Ricker - Head of Care at Paid.care 5/28/26

How Family Caregivers Can Build Financial Stability While Getting Paid to Care

Financial planning for paid family caregivers starts the day your first check arrives. Here's a step-by-step guide to budgeting, protecting benefits, reducing taxes, and building long-term stability from your caregiver income.

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