Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about getting paid as a family caregiver in Michigan — rates, eligibility, taxes, timelines, and what happens when things don’t go to plan. Updated for 2026.
The Program
- What is the Michigan Home Help program?
- A Medicaid benefit run by MDHHS that pays for personal care — bathing, dressing, meals, mobility — so adults can stay in their own homes. The caregiver can be a family member, friend, or neighbor the client chooses. Full program overview.
- Is it legitimate?
- Yes — it’s administered directly by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and has run for decades. Be cautious of anyone charging large upfront fees to “unlock” the program. How to spot the real thing.
- Is there a waitlist?
- No. Home Help is an entitlement: if your loved one qualifies, services must be provided. Michigan’s MI Choice waiver, by contrast, can have waitlists.
Pay
- How much do family caregivers get paid in Michigan?
- $17.13 per hour in 2026 for individual caregivers ($13.73 base + $3.40 supplement), the same in every county. 2026 rates in detail.
- How many hours will I be paid for?
- A county case manager assesses your loved one’s needs and authorizes a set number of weekly hours — it’s based on their needs, not a number you choose. Hours can be reassessed if needs increase.
- Is the pay taxable?
- Often not at the federal level: if you live with the person you care for, Home Help pay may be excludable under IRS Notice 2014-7. The caregiver tax guide.
- Does caregiver pay count as income for Medicaid or other benefits?
- It can affect your benefits depending on the program; it doesn’t reduce your loved one’s Medicaid. How pay interacts with benefits.
Eligibility
- Who qualifies to receive care?
- A Michigan resident enrolled in Medicaid Fee for Service who needs hands-on help with at least one activity of daily living. 2026 limits: roughly $1,330/month income and $9,950 in assets for a single applicant (spend-down options exist). Full criteria.
- Who can be the paid caregiver?
- Adult children, siblings, grandchildren, other relatives, friends, and neighbors — anyone 18+ who passes a background check and enrolls in CHAMPS. Spouses and parents of minor children cannot be paid under Home Help.
- Can I get paid to care for my spouse?
- Not through Home Help. Michigan’s MI Choice waiver self-determination option can pay spouses in some cases, and VA programs can pay spouses of eligible veterans. Spouse caregiver options.
- Can I get paid to care for my adult child with a disability?
- Often yes — the parent-of-a-minor exclusion ends at 18. Disability caregiving guide.
- What if my loved one only has Medicare?
- Medicare alone doesn’t qualify — but many people are eligible for Medicaid and don’t know it. Getting a parent enrolled in Michigan Medicaid.
The Process
- How long does approval take?
- It varies; with guided support most Mozyne families finish in about 60 days. What drives the timeline.
- What’s involved in the background check?
- A criminal history review — most records aren’t disqualifying, but some (patient abuse/neglect, Medicaid fraud) are. What to expect.
- What is CHAMPS?
- Michigan’s Medicaid provider enrollment system — every paid caregiver registers there before payment. Step-by-step CHAMPS guide.
- What is EVV?
- Electronic Visit Verification — the app/phone system Michigan requires caregivers to use to log care visits (mandatory since September 2024). EVV setup guide.
- What if we’re denied?
- Many denials stem from fixable issues — wrong Medicaid category, thin assessment documentation. You can appeal, and you can reapply. Denial and appeal options.
Mozyne
- What does Mozyne Health actually do?
- Everything between “I think I might qualify” and “I’m getting paid and supported”: eligibility screening, Medicaid guidance, assessment prep, CHAMPS and EVV setup — then 1:1 coaching, 24/7 AI support, peer community, and dementia-specialized training after enrollment. How it works.
- How is Mozyne different from FreedomCare or other enrollment companies?
- We’re Michigan-focused, and payment is only half our model. Our caregiver coaching is built on the clinical research of co-founder Dr. Malaz Boustani, one of the leading dementia-care researchers in the country — support that’s been associated with 47% fewer ER visits and 49% fewer hospitalizations in the populations studied. Our approach.
