Key takeaway
Illinois pays family caregivers mainly through the Community Care Program (CCP) for older adults and the Home Services Program (HSP) for adults with disabilities. Both programs allow consumer direction so the care recipient can hire a family member.
- CCP: Pays family caregivers for older adults 60+; spouses and adult children living in the home are generally excluded.
- HSP: Pays family caregivers for adults under 60 with significant disabilities; consumer-directed.
- Medicaid HCBS waivers: Several 1915(c) waivers can pay family caregivers.
- Veterans: Aid & Attendance and Veteran Directed Care can pay family, including spouses under VDC.
Overview
Illinois has two main "doors" for paid family caregiving. The Community Care Program (CCP), run by the Illinois Department on Aging, serves residents 60 and older. The Home Services Program (HSP), run by the Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services, serves working-age adults with disabilities. Both rely on a consumer-direction model where the care recipient acts as the employer of record and selects the caregiver.
Most CCP/HSP services are funded by Medicaid through 1915(c) waivers including the Persons Who Are Elderly Waiver and the Persons with Disabilities Waiver. Spouses and certain household relatives are typically excluded from being paid; adult children who do not live with the recipient can usually be hired. Veterans have separate VA paths that can pay a spouse.
Programs that pay family caregivers in Illinois
| Program (Type) | Care recipient eligibility | Paid family caregiver provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Community Care Program (CCP) (Illinois Department on Aging / Medicaid HCBS) | Age 60+, Illinois resident, needs nursing-home level of care, and meets income/asset limits (non-exempt assets typically under $17,500). | Consumer-directed in-home services. Adult children and other relatives can be paid; spouses and certain household members are not eligible to be hired. |
| Home Services Program (HSP) (Illinois DHS-DRS / Medicaid HCBS) | Adults under 60 with a significant disability who would otherwise need nursing-home or ICF/IID care; Medicaid financial limits apply. | Customer-directed: the participant hires, trains, and supervises their personal assistant, who can be a family member (not a spouse or parent of a minor). |
| Persons with Disabilities Waiver (Medicaid 1915(c) waiver) | Adults 18 to 59 with disabilities who meet nursing-facility level of care; financial eligibility through Medicaid. | Funds the HSP services described above, including personal assistant services delivered by family members. |
| Persons Who Are Elderly Waiver (Medicaid 1915(c) waiver) | Adults 60+ needing nursing-home level of care; income/asset limits apply. | Funds CCP services including in-home care, adult day services, and emergency response. |
| Aid & Attendance Pension (VA benefit) | Wartime veteran or surviving spouse who needs help with daily activities and meets VA pension rules. | Adds to monthly pension; can be used to pay adult children or relatives. Spouses are not paid directly. |
| Veteran Directed Care (VDC) (VA program) | Veterans in VA health care needing nursing-home level care, living in a participating VAMC service area. | Flexible monthly care budget the veteran manages to hire caregivers, including spouses. |
Illinois Medicaid programs
Illinois Medicaid funds in-home family caregiving primarily through 1915(c) HCBS waivers that flow money to two operational programs: the Community Care Program (CCP) for older adults and the Home Services Program (HSP) for adults with disabilities. Both use a consumer-directed model.
Community Care Program (CCP)
CCP serves Illinois residents 60 and older who would otherwise need nursing-home care. The program funds in-home services, adult day services, and emergency home response so participants can remain at home.
- Care recipient must be 60+ and meet nursing-home level of care.
- Non-exempt asset limit is typically $17,500 (the home is generally exempt).
- Adult children and many relatives can be paid; spouses and household members are usually excluded.
- A Care Coordination Unit (CCU) completes the assessment and authorizes hours.
Home Services Program (HSP)
HSP is operated by the DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services for adults under 60 with significant disabilities. Participants act as the employer of record for their personal assistant.
- Must be 18 to 59 with a qualifying disability and meet a nursing-facility level of care.
- Care recipients hire, schedule, and supervise the personal assistant directly.
- Family members can be paid except for spouses and the parent of a minor recipient.
- Funded by the Persons with Disabilities Waiver and related 1915(c) waivers.
State and local supports outside Medicaid
For families who do not qualify for Medicaid, the Illinois Department on Aging and local Area Agencies on Aging offer some non-Medicaid supports. These rarely pay a full caregiver wage but help offset the cost of providing care.
Federally funded counseling, training, respite, and supplemental supports for unpaid family caregivers of older adults.
Local AAAs may provide short-term respite vouchers and caregiver education to relieve unpaid family caregivers.
Who qualifies
- Family caregivers of adults 60+ or of any age with Alzheimer's/related dementia.
- Grandparents 55+ raising grandchildren may also qualify for some services.
- Income and availability vary by AAA region and funding year.
Veterans' programs
Illinois veterans can leverage VA programs to pay family caregivers. The two key paths are the Aid & Attendance pension increase and Veteran Directed Care (VDC), which is offered through several participating VAMCs in Illinois.
Aid & Attendance Pension
A&A raises a qualifying veteran's or surviving spouse's pension to help pay for care. The veteran can use the increased pension to compensate a family caregiver.
- Wartime service, limited income/assets, and ADL need required.
- Commonly used to pay adult children for hands-on care.
- A spouse cannot be paid directly because household income is counted together.
Veteran Directed Care (VDC)
VDC gives the veteran a flexible monthly care budget administered by a financial management service. It is the only VA program that can pay a spouse as a caregiver.
- For veterans meeting nursing-home level of care within VA health care.
- Family caregivers, including spouses, may be hired.
- Availability depends on the participating VAMC; not all Illinois centers offer VDC.
Long-term care insurance
A qualifying long-term care insurance policy may pay benefits that can be used to compensate a family caregiver, subject to policy terms.
What to check in the policy
- Policy must cover in-home personal care, not just nursing-facility care.
- Cash/indemnity policies that pay the policyholder directly offer the most flexibility.
Some policies only reimburse licensed agencies. In that case, families sometimes have the caregiver employed by a licensed Illinois home care agency that the insurer will pay.
How to apply in Illinois (step-by-step)
- Identify the right door: CCP (60+), HSP (18 to 59 with a disability), DD waiver, VA benefits, or LTC insurance.
- Gather documents: ID, proof of Illinois residency, income/asset documentation, medical records, and (for veterans) DD-214.
- Contact the right agency:
- CCP: call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 or contact your local Care Coordination Unit (CCU).
- HSP: contact the DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) office in your county.
- Persons with Disabilities Waiver: complete the HSP intake to be assessed for the waiver.
- VA paths: speak with a VA social worker or your nearest Illinois VAMC about A&A or VDC.
- Complete a functional assessment (Determination of Need score for older adults; functional eligibility for HSP) and a financial eligibility review.
- Sign up with the fiscal employer agent (such as the state-contracted payroll vendor) and enroll your family caregiver as the personal assistant.
- Begin services; submit timesheets and care notes; complete annual recertifications.
Illinois paid caregiver FAQs
Can a spouse be paid as a caregiver in Illinois?
Generally no under CCP, HSP, or the related Medicaid waivers. A spouse can be paid as a caregiver under VA Veteran Directed Care when the veteran qualifies.
How much do caregivers get paid in Illinois?
Personal assistants under HSP and home care aides under CCP typically earn in the range of about $17 to $20 per hour, with rates updated periodically by the state.
Can I be paid to care for my parent in Illinois?
Yes. Adult children who do not live in the same home as the care recipient can usually be hired under CCP or HSP. A&A and VDC also allow paying adult children.
What is the difference between CCP and HSP in Illinois?
CCP serves Illinois residents 60 and older through the Department on Aging. HSP serves adults under 60 with significant disabilities through DHS-DRS. Both pay family caregivers under consumer direction.
How long does it take to get approved for paid caregiving in Illinois?
CCP and HSP intake assessments typically take a few weeks. Medicaid financial eligibility can add additional time. Plan for one to three months overall.
