CD-PASS Oklahoma: How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver

You've cut your work hours to care for your aging parent. You're handling bathing, meals, medication reminders, and doctor appointments — work that a paid home care aide would bill for. Oklahoma's Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services and Supports (CD-PASS) program can actually pay you for the care you're already providing.

CD-PASS is an option within the ADvantage Waiver that flips the traditional home care model. Instead of the state assigning an agency to send workers, your parent becomes the employer — hiring, training, scheduling, and managing their own caregivers. And those caregivers can be family members.

Who Can Get Paid Under CD-PASS?

Under standard ADvantage Waiver rules, non-spouse, non-guardian family members can serve as paid personal care assistants. Adult children, siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren are all eligible to be hired as your parent's CD-PASS worker.

The spouse and guardian exception: Normally, spouses and court-appointed guardians are excluded from being paid caregivers. But CD-PASS includes a policy exception pathway — a legally responsible spouse or guardian can apply for approval to serve as the paid in-home caregiver. This requires:

• A formal policy exception request through the ADvantage Administration
• Monthly in-person monitoring visits from the case manager
• Documentation that no other suitable caregiver is available

This exception is particularly important in rural Oklahoma, where the nearest home care agency might be hours away and workforce shortages make hiring outside caregivers nearly impossible.

How Much Does CD-PASS Pay?

CD-PASS pay rates are set by the state and vary based on the level of care authorized in the service plan. Rates are comparable to what home care agencies bill, though the caregiver receives the full rate (agencies typically keep 30–40% as overhead).

The number of paid hours per week depends on the individualized service plan developed with the case manager. Plans are based on the UCAT III assessment results — a parent who needs extensive help with multiple ADLs will be authorized for more hours than one who needs minimal assistance.

Caregivers are paid as employees through a fiscal intermediary (not as independent contractors), which means taxes are withheld and you're covered by workers' compensation.

Requirements to Participate

Your parent must first qualify for the ADvantage Waiver:

• Clinical: Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC) determined by the UCAT III assessment
• Financial: Gross monthly income under $2,982 (or up to $7,535 with a Miller Trust), countable assets under $2,000

Once approved for the waiver, your parent chooses the CD-PASS option during provider selection. They then:

1. Complete employer training — a short orientation on managing employees, timesheets, and reporting
2. Hire their caregiver(s) — the caregiver must pass an OSBI background check and a sex offender registry check
3. Submit timesheets — the fiscal intermediary processes payroll based on approved hours

The case manager visits regularly to ensure the care plan is being followed and the parent's needs are being met.

CD-PASS vs. Agency-Directed Care

CD-PASS gives families more control but also more responsibility. If the hired family caregiver gets sick or takes a vacation, there's no agency to send a backup worker. The care plan should include a crisis backup strategy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not establishing a Miller Trust when needed. If your parent's income exceeds $2,982/month, the ADvantage Waiver application will be denied regardless of clinical need. Set up the Qualified Income Trust before applying.

Assuming all family members qualify. The caregiver must pass background checks and cannot have certain criminal convictions. Start the background check process early — delays can hold up the entire care arrangement.

Skipping the formal employer training. CD-PASS participants who don't complete the required orientation can have their consumer-directed option revoked, reverting to agency-directed care.

Getting Started

CD-PASS enrollment happens through the ADvantage Waiver application process — it's not a separate program to apply for. Your parent applies for the waiver, qualifies clinically and financially, then selects CD-PASS during the provider choice step.

The Oklahoma Home Care, Waivers & Support Guide walks through the complete ADvantage Waiver application timeline, UCAT III preparation strategies, and CD-PASS enrollment steps — including the spouse/guardian exception request process.

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