Can a Family Member Get Paid to Care for a Parent in DC?

You're already providing 30 hours a week of care for your aging parent. You've cut your work hours or quit entirely. And now you're wondering: is there a way to actually get paid for this?

In DC, the answer is yes — through the EPD Waiver's "Services My Way" program. But the rules about which family members can participate are specific.

How Services My Way Works for Family Caregivers

Under the EPD Waiver's participant-directed care model, your parent (or their designated representative) acts as the employer of their own care workers. They can hire friends, neighbors, and certain family members as Participant-Directed Workers (PDWs).

Adult children are eligible to serve as paid caregivers under this program. You go through a hiring process, complete any required background checks and training, and then submit timesheets for the hours you provide care. A fiscal intermediary — typically Public Partnerships LLC — processes payroll, withholds taxes, and issues your W-2 at year end.

Who Can't Be a Paid Caregiver

The program draws specific lines:

• Spouses of the Medicaid beneficiary are generally prohibited from serving as paid PDWs
• Legally appointed guardians cannot receive caregiver pay — the structural conflict of interest (being both the guardian who authorizes services and the worker who delivers them) disqualifies them

Adult children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and non-relatives are all eligible, provided they're not also the legal guardian.

What Your Parent Must Qualify For

This isn't a standalone program — it's a component of the EPD Waiver. Your parent must first qualify for the waiver:

• Countable assets below $4,000
• Monthly income at or below $2,982 (or eligible through medically needy spend-down)
• Clinical determination of Nursing Facility Level of Care by Liberty Healthcare
• Enrollment in the EPD Waiver (subject to the ~6,100 participant cap)

Once enrolled, your parent can choose the Services My Way model and designate you as their worker.

What the Pay Looks Like

PDW compensation is set by the Medicaid rate schedule, not by the family. The hourly rate is modest — well below what private home care agencies charge their clients — but it provides real income for family caregivers who would otherwise be providing care unpaid.

The fiscal intermediary handles all employer obligations: payroll taxes, workers' compensation coverage, and unemployment insurance. You receive a regular paycheck and a W-2 for tax filing.

The Application Timeline

From the initial DACL intake to having an active Services My Way arrangement typically takes 45 to 90 days. During that period, any care you provide is uncompensated unless you arrange private payment with your parent.

The DC Medicaid Long-Term Care Guide walks through the full EPD Waiver application process and includes the specific steps for setting up a Services My Way arrangement.

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