How to become the paid caregiver for a family member in Michigan

The short answerThe person you care for has to be approved for Michigan Home Help first. Then you have to be 18 or older, pass a criminal history check, enroll with the State in CHAMPS, be interviewed in person by the caseworker and sign an agreement with the person you care for. Payment starts only after the State authorizes it.

Before you begin: is your relative approved?

You do not apply to be a caregiver on your own. The paid caregiver role exists because a relative has been approved for Home Help. If that has not happened yet, start with who qualifies and how to apply.

Who the State will and will not pay

• Can be paid: adult children and, in many cases, other adult relatives or friends, if they meet the requirements below.
• Cannot be paid: a spouse caring for a spouse, a parent caring for a minor child, anyone under 18, and anyone currently receiving Home Help services themselves.

The checklist

1. Meet the basic requirements

State policy asks that an individual caregiver be at least 18, able to follow program procedures and perform the services, physically able to do the work, able to handle emergencies and dependable. You must also be willing to take training the program makes available.

2. Pass the criminal history screening

MDHHS Provider Enrollment screens your criminal history, and you must pass before any payment. Some convictions bar you by federal law. Others can be allowed if your relative signs a form acknowledging the history and choosing you anyway. Look-back periods are 10 years for felonies and 5 years for misdemeanors.

3. Enroll in CHAMPS

CHAMPS is Michigan's Medicaid provider system. You must enroll and be approved before you provide services you want to be paid for. You receive a seven-digit provider ID. Re-validation is required again every few years.

4. Attend the in-person interview

The Adult Services Worker interviews you in person. Bring a photo ID.

5. Sign the services agreement

You and your relative sign the Home Help services agreement. The State does not authorize payment for a new case or a change of provider until it has the signed form.

6. Keep records and bill monthly

Individual caregivers are paid through monthly billing, which the caseworker verifies before payment. There is a limit on how long you have to submit, so do it every month and keep a log of what you did each visit.

Doing it alone or through an agency

You can enroll as an individual caregiver or work for a Home Help agency. An agency employs the caregiver and handles the paperwork. The State sets the rate for each type of provider and they are not the same. Compare them for your situation.

If you have been paid by the State as your relative's individual caregiver, Michigan policy can require a waiting period (90 days) before you can work for an agency for the same person. Ask before you switch.

Common reasons families get stuck

• The Medicaid or medical certification step is not finished.
• The caregiver's screening or CHAMPS enrollment is not complete before care starts.
• Care begins informally before authorization, and that time is not paid.
• The agreement is not signed by both people.

This is general information, not legal, tax or benefits advice. Whether someone can be paid depends on the State's decision for that person. Rules change, so confirm with MDHHS.