Question from Caring.com Community Member, mandajoy77
I read the section on "getting paid to be own family caregiver." My father died two months ago. My mother has stage 3 cancer right now and just had a mastectomy but it has spread to other parts of body. She is also obese and diabetic. I am a healthcare worker myself. I just quit my job to take care of her. I live in Missouri. I dont think she will quailfy for Medicaid because she is receiving dad's Social Security. She is also on Medicare. She does quailify for a caregiver -- how do I become that caregiver that gets paid?
Expert Answer by Joseph L. Matthews
Joseph L. Matthews is a Caring.com senior editor, an attorney, and the author of Long-Term Care: How to Plan & Pay for It and Social Security, Medicare, & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits.
Whether you can get paid to be her caregiver depends on what program, either Medicaid or other state program, is available in the state where you live. Cash and Counseling or similar programs in many states can provide regular payment to family caregivers even if the person being cared for would not otherwise qualify for Medicaid. If your mother’s only income is from Social Security, and she has no significant assets, it is very likely that she would qualify for any direct cash payment caregiver program in your state, particularly because of the medical costs she has related to her various serious medical conditions. Since it is likely that she would qualify despite the Social Security payments she gets, you should definitely help your mother apply for Medicaid and any other cash and counseling-type program available in your state. You can apply for your state Medicaid or other cash assistance program at your local Medicaid office. To find the local Medicaid office near you, contact the Eldercare Locator on the web at www.eldercare.gov or by phone toll-free at 800-677-1116.
