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Get paid to care for a family member in California

In California, a family member can be paid as your IHSS provider if you qualify for IHSS through your county. Rules for spouses and for parents of minor children are narrower.

Carevo editorial team Updated October 27, 2026 Source checked by Carevo editorial team, October 27, 2026

A family member can be paid to care for you in California through In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), as long as you qualify for IHSS and the relative completes provider enrollment. The State of California issues the paychecks. Your county decides how many hours are authorized.

The program that pays family

California does not have a separate paid family caregiver program. The route is IHSS, run by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). CDSS says that after your services are approved, the social worker helps you get a care provider, and providers may include family members, friends, neighbors or registered providers through the county public authority. You are the employer, so you choose the person and supervise them.

To qualify for IHSS, you must be a California resident, have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination, live in your own home or an abode of your choosing, and submit a Health Care Certification form. The person being paid does not need to qualify for anything on their own beyond enrollment.

Who can be paid, and who has limits

  • Adult children, siblings and other relatives. CDSS lists family members among possible providers. No relationship is named as barred on the pages we read.
  • Spouses. CDSS's 2006 IHSS consumer handbook says IHSS pays spouses of consumers under certain circumstances. It adds that the county determines whether a spouse is able and available, and that an able and available spouse limits what IHSS pays for. The handbook is dated, so ask your county.
  • Parents of minor children. CDSS says a parent cannot be the provider for a child enrolled in the PCSP sub-program because of federal rules. Minors in CFCO, IPO or IHSS-R may hire any provider who completes enrollment. The handbook adds that a parent cannot be paid for age-appropriate supervision and care.
  • Anyone with a barred conviction. CDSS publishes a list of exclusionary crimes that prevent provider enrollment.

How a relative gets enrolled

  1. The care recipient applies for IHSS with the county and gets authorized hours.
  2. The relative reads CDSS form SOC 847, which sets out every step before enrollment and payment, and completes each one. CDSS says you must finish all steps before you can be enrolled and paid.
  3. The relative takes part in the provider orientation process.
  4. Once enrolled, the relative fills in timesheets electronically. IHSS pay periods run from the 1st to the 15th and from the 16th to the end of the month.

If a provider is denied, CDSS has a page on how to appeal.

What the pay is

CDSS does not publish a statewide hourly rate. Wage rates are negotiated with the employer of record in each county, so they differ by county. Ask the care recipient's social worker for the county rate. The State withholds disability insurance and Social Security taxes where the provider qualifies.

Hours are the other half of the pay question. IHSS pays for hours the county authorizes, not for every hour a family spends caring. If your needs change, you can ask for a reassessment at any time.

Taxes

CDSS says that since January 2017, live-in IHSS providers can choose to self-certify their living arrangement so that IHSS wages are excluded from federal and state income tax. CDSS publishes an income tax fact sheet for providers. Carevo does not give tax advice, so check the CDSS pages and ask a tax professional.

Where to start

Carevo is a connection platform and directory. We do not enroll anyone in IHSS, decide hours or pay, or run payroll for family caregivers.

Looking for care?

Tell us your ZIP code and the type of care, and we will show providers that serve your area.

Common questions

Can I get paid to take care of my parent in California?

Possibly. If your parent qualifies for IHSS, they can choose you as their individual provider. CDSS says providers may include family members, and the provider must complete enrollment before being paid.

Do I have to be a licensed caregiver?

The CDSS pages we read describe an enrollment process, not a license. You must complete the steps in form SOC 847, and certain convictions bar enrollment. Ask your county IHSS office or public authority for the current steps.

Can a spouse be paid through IHSS?

CDSS's 2006 consumer handbook says IHSS pays spouses of consumers under certain circumstances, and that the county decides whether a spouse is able and available. That document is old, so confirm with your county.

Can I be paid to care for my child with a disability?

Sometimes. A parent cannot be the provider for a child in the PCSP sub-program. Minors in CFCO, IPO or IHSS-R may hire any provider who completes enrollment. Tell the county your preference when you apply.

Who pays the family caregiver?

The State issues IHSS provider paychecks. The care recipient is the employer and the county sets the authorized hours.

Is the money taxable?

CDSS says live-in providers can self-certify their living arrangement to exclude IHSS wages from federal and state income tax. Read the CDSS page and ask a tax professional about your case.

Sources

Review status: Carevo checked this page against the primary sources listed above. It has not been professionally reviewed by a registered nurse, licensed social worker, benefits counselor or attorney. See our editorial standards.

This page is general information, not financial, legal or medical advice. Rules and services vary by state and by individual circumstances. Use the official sources and decision-maker named on the page. Carevo is a connection platform, not a care provider.