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Get paid to care for a family member in Washington

In Washington, a relative can be paid as an individual provider if the person they care for qualifies for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports. DSHS says a spouse generally cannot be paid, with two exceptions.

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

A relative can be paid to care for you in Washington if you qualify for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports and the relative is hired as an individual provider. DSHS says you cannot be paid to care for your spouse under Apple Health and Long-Term Services and Supports, except in two cases it names.

The route for family

Washington does not have a separate family caregiver payment program on the pages we read. The route is the individual provider (IP) option inside Medicaid long-term care, such as Medicaid Personal Care or the COPES waiver with Community First Choice. DSHS says family members can become paid caregivers if the person they care for qualifies, and that a family member can only be hired as an IP.

The IP is employed by the Consumer Direct Care Network of Washington. DSHS says IPs can be friends, family or new to the client, and that schedules are flexible. The client selects, schedules, supervises, directs and dismisses the IP, according to the DSHS Long-Term Care Manual, and must name back-up caregivers.

Who has limits

  • Spouses. DSHS says you cannot be paid to provide care for your spouse. Veteran Directed Care may allow a veteran's spouse to be hired. WA Cares will allow spouses to be paid caregivers if the person receiving care has earned WA Cares benefits and meets the required level of need. We did not read the WA Cares or Veteran Directed Care program pages, so ask DSHS how either applies.
  • Other relatives. The DSHS page we read does not list other relatives as barred. Adult children, siblings and others can apply to be hired.
  • Anyone who fails the checks. The IP must pass the appropriate criminal background checks, be 18 or older and be able to legally work in the United States.

Steps for a relative

  1. The care recipient is assessed and authorized for Medicaid long-term services and supports. Contact DSHS Home and Community Services or your Area Agency on Aging.
  2. The relative applies through Consumer Direct Washington. DSHS links to its become-a-provider page. Clients and IPs can call 1-866-214-9899, a number the DSHS manual lists.
  3. The relative completes the background check and shows photo identification and work authorization.
  4. DSHS says most paid family caregivers complete 35 hours of training: five hours of Orientation and Safety during hiring, then the rest within 120 days of hire.

DSHS lists Long-Term Care Workforce Navigators by region for questions: 360.280.1480 for Central and Eastern Washington, 360.764.6320 for King County and Northwest Washington, and 360.584.7532 for Pierce County and Southwest Washington. Check that these still apply before you call.

Pay and hours

The pages we read give no wage or rate. The hours paid are the hours authorized in the care recipient's plan, not every hour a family spends caring. The manual says the client works with the Consumer Directed Employer and the IP on how the authorized in-home hours are assigned.

Where to start

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Common questions

Can I get paid to care for my parent in Washington?

Possibly. DSHS says family members who care for a relative can become paid caregivers if the care recipient qualifies for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports. The relative is hired as an individual provider through Consumer Direct Washington.

Can I be paid to care for my spouse?

Generally no. DSHS says that under Apple Health and Long-Term Services and Supports you cannot be paid to provide care for your spouse. It names two exceptions: Veteran Directed Care, which may allow a veteran's spouse to be hired, and WA Cares, if the person receiving care has earned WA Cares benefits and meets the required level of need.

Who employs a paid family caregiver?

Consumer Direct Care Network of Washington. The DSHS manual says the individual provider is an employee of the Consumer Directed Employer contracted for the state, while the client selects, schedules, supervises and can dismiss the provider.

What training does a family caregiver need?

DSHS says most paid family caregivers complete 35 hours of training. You complete five hours of Orientation and Safety during hiring, then finish the training within 120 days of hire. Other roles, such as Home Care Aide, have different requirements.

What are the basic requirements?

DSHS lists a background check, valid photo identification, authorization to work in the United States, and the caregiver training required for your role. The manual adds that an individual provider must be 18 or older.

How much does a paid family caregiver earn?

The DSHS pages we read do not state a wage. We do not give a figure. Ask Consumer Direct Washington or the care recipient's case manager.

Is the pay taxable?

We did not read a DSHS tax page, so we do not say. DSHS has a page on an IRS notice about difficulty-of-care payments. Ask a tax professional.

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.