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Get paid to care for a family member in Georgia

In Georgia, a Medicaid waiver member can hire workers of their choice through Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services, and the waiver has a Structured Family Caregiver service for live-in family caregivers. DCH's pages do not list which relatives are excluded.

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

In Georgia, family caregiving can be paid through the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), run by the Department of Community Health (DCH). Members can hire workers of their choice under Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services, and the waiver has a Structured Family Caregiver service. DCH's pages do not say which relatives are excluded.

Option 1: Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services

DCH's fact sheet, updated in 2025, says Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services is the same as Personal Support Services, except that the consumer hires and supervises workers of choice. Clients in the option must choose a Financial Management Services (FMS) provider that issues paychecks and follows federal and state tax laws for them. Personal Support Services include help with meal preparation, hygiene and nutrition, light housekeeping, necessary errands and other support.

The fact sheet does not say whether the worker can be a family member, and it does not list exclusions such as spouses. Ask your care coordinator and the FMS provider, and ask for the answer in writing.

Option 2: Structured Family Caregiver

DCH describes Structured Family Caregiver as support, education and oversight for members whose family caregiver lives in the home. The live-in family member works with a health coach from the service provider. A December 2018 DCH notice says eligibility depends on there being a live-in, unpaid family caregiver in the home and an assessed need for at least five hours of personal support daily. See structured family caregiving in Georgia, including what we could not confirm about how much the caregiver receives.

Who qualifies for the waiver

DCH lists these EDWP criteria: age 21 or older, functional impairment from physical limitations, an unmet need for care, an intermediate level of care certification for nursing home placement, physician approval of the care plan, Medicaid eligible or potentially eligible, and a choice of community-based over institutional services. Services must fall within the average annual cost of Medicaid-reimbursed nursing facility care.

How to start

  1. Contact your Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for an assessment. DCH lists the phone number for each of Georgia's 12 regions on its fact sheet.
  2. If you are eligible, the care coordinator works with you to decide which services you need.
  3. Ask whether consumer-directed services or Structured Family Caregiver fit your situation.
  4. If you do not have Medicaid, apply at your county Division of Family and Children Services. SSI recipients apply through the Social Security Administration.

Pay and hours

We do not state a pay rate or hours. DCH's fact sheet does not give them, and they depend on your assessment and plan. The financial limits in the fact sheet change when Social Security amounts change, so check the current sheet.

Questions for the care coordinator

  • Can my adult child, sibling or other relative be my paid worker in consumer-directed services?
  • Is there a limit for a spouse or someone who lives with me?
  • Who is the FMS provider, and what paperwork does a worker complete?
  • Is Structured Family Caregiver available in my region, and how does the daily payment reach the family caregiver?

Carevo is a connection platform and directory. We do not enroll anyone, run payroll or advise on eligibility. See the Georgia overview, and for agency help, home care in Georgia.

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Common questions

Can I be paid to care for my parent in Georgia?

Possibly. A member of the Elderly and Disabled Waiver can use Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services to hire workers of their choice. DCH's fact sheet does not say which relatives may be hired, so ask your care coordinator.

What is Structured Family Caregiver?

A waiver service that supports a family caregiver who lives with the member. A health coach from the provider supports the caregiver. DCH's 2018 notice requires a live-in, unpaid family caregiver and an assessed need for at least five hours of personal support daily.

Who pays the caregiver in consumer-directed services?

DCH says clients choose a Financial Management Services provider that issues paychecks and follows federal and state tax laws for them.

How do I start?

Contact your Area Agency on Aging for an EDWP assessment. DCH says the AAA is the entry point and determines eligibility and the services needed.

Do I need to be on Medicaid?

The member must be Medicaid eligible or potentially eligible after admission to the waiver. DCH says people who are not Medicaid recipients apply at the local county Division of Family and Children Services.

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.