The Program Eligibility Pay & Rates Calculator Guides For Agencies Check Eligibility
Oakland County · City Guide

Home Help in Clarkston, Michigan

Clarkston is tiny by design — at well under a square mile, it's the smallest city by land area in Michigan, with fewer than 1,000 residents inside its own borders, though the broader community it's woven into is far larger. Its walkable, historic downtown and close community ties mean Home Help questions here often come from families who've known their neighbors for decades.

Suburban Oakland County Michigan neighborhood, home to Clarkston families researching Home Help

How Home Help works in Clarkston

The Home Help Program works the same way across all of Oakland County — Clarkston residents apply through the same county MDHHS office, go through the same MDHHS-5534 home assessment, and are paid $17.13/hr if self-directed — or up to $23/hr through one of our licensed agency partners — once approved and enrolled in CHAMPS. What differs city to city isn't the program rules, it's the local context families are navigating around it.

Eligibility and next steps

If you're in Clarkston and think a parent, grandparent, or other loved one might qualify, the fastest way to find out is our full eligibility checklist, which covers the 2026 asset limits and the functional ADL test MDHHS uses. If you're specifically wondering whether you personally could become the paid caregiver, our self-direction guide covers exactly who can and can't be paid.

For your local MDHHS office's current contact details, MDHHS's own directory is the most reliable source — see our Oakland County guide for the direct link, plus more on what makes care planning in Oakland County a little different.

Family caregiver or agency?

Both paths are available to Clarkston families. A self-directed family caregiver is paid $17.13/hr directly and keeps care inside the family; a licensed provider agency handles hiring, payroll, and backup coverage, and can pay the caregiver up to $23/hr. Our family vs. agency comparison breaks down the trade-offs plainly, and our free pay calculator can show what either path looks like for your specific approved hours.

Clarkston Home Help FAQ

How much does Home Help pay caregivers in Clarkston?+

The same statewide rates apply in Clarkston as anywhere else in Oakland County: $17.13/hr if you self-direct as an individual provider, or up to $23/hr through one of CarePay Michigan's licensed agency partners.

Clarkston residents apply through their local Oakland County MDHHS office, complete the MDHHS-5534 home assessment, and enroll the chosen caregiver through the state's CHAMPS system. Our full application walkthrough covers every step.

Young adult granddaughter helping her grandmother in the backyard garden

Ready to talk through your family's specific situation?

We'll help Clarkston families figure out the right next step — no obligation.

Check my eligibility ↗