How Home Help works in Ferndale
The Home Help Program works the same way across all of Oakland County — Ferndale 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 Ferndale 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 Ferndale 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.
Ferndale Home Help FAQ
The same statewide rates apply in Ferndale 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.
Ferndale 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.
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