How Caregivers Can Get Financial Help in Virginia

If you are caring for someone who lives in Virginia, Medicaid may pay you as a caregiver through the CCC Plus Waiver. Virginia Medicaid allows family members and friends to become paid caregivers through this program.

The Main Source of Paid Caregiving Support: Virginia Medicaid

The primary way family caregivers get paid in Virginia is through Virginia Medicaid, a health insurance program for people with limited income and limited savings.

Medicaid is different from Medicare (even though they sound confusingly similar). Medicare is a federal health insurance based on age or work history. Medicaid is what we're focusing on in this website: it can cover long-term in-home caregiver services when the person receiving care meets the state's income, savings, and care requirements.

For more details, see: Medicare vs. Medicaid — What Caregivers Need to Know

The Program That Pays Caregivers

Within Virginia Medicaid, the program that pays caregivers is the CCC Plus Waiver.

The waiver covers in-home caregiver services for people who would otherwise need care in a nursing facility.

Most families use a care model called Consumer-Directed care. Under this model, the person receiving care or a designated representative (another family member or friend, etc) chooses and manages the caregiver.

The caregiver may be a family member, friend, or other trusted person who meets Medicaid enrollment rules.

For a full explanation, see: What Is Consumer-Directed Care?

Who Must Qualify for Medicaid

Medicaid eligibility is based on the person receiving care, not the caregiver.

The person receiving care must:

• Meet Virginia Medicaid income and savings limits
• Require a nursing-facility level of care, confirmed through a Medicaid assessment
• Be enrolled in the CCC Plus Waiver

To learn more about eligibility, see: How to Qualify for Medicaid in Virginia (Who Is Eligible?)

Requirements for the Caregiver

The caregiver does not need to meet income or asset limits.

To be paid through the program, the caregiver must:

• Pass a criminal background check
• Complete caregiver enrollment and payroll paperwork

Other Support Programs for Caregivers

Beyond the CCC Plus Waiver program, Virginia has a few other programs that support caregivers.

Adult Day Health Care

Medicaid covers Adult Day Health Care for eligible individuals. These programs provide supervised daytime care and reduce the daily burden of in-home care.

Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program

This program is run by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and reimburses families up to $595 per year for hiring short-term respite care. It is designed to give caregivers a temporary break and does not pay for ongoing care.

Veterans Caregiver Programs

If the person receiving care is a veteran, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers caregiver support programs with separate rules.

Certain VA caregiver programs provide a monthly stipend, health insurance coverage, or respite care.

Read: Government Programs That Pay In-Home Caregivers Explained