The 2026 rate: $17.13/hr self-directed, up to $23/hr through an agency
Effective January 1, 2026, Michigan's Home Help Program pays self-directed individual caregivers $17.13 per hour for approved, verified care hours. This rate is set by the state and applies to caregivers enrolled as individual providers through CHAMPS — whether that's an adult child, sibling, grandchild, or friend providing self-directed care. Caregivers placed with one of CarePay Michigan's licensed home care agency partners can instead earn up to $23 per hour, since the agency bills Medicaid at its own, higher contracted rate and passes more of it through to the caregiver.
The $17.13/hr individual rate and the Home Help program's approved-hours structure are set by MDHHS and apply statewide. The up-to-$23/hr figure reflects what CarePay Michigan's participating licensed agency partners can pay their caregiver employees — actual pay varies by agency, county, and role, so confirm the exact rate with the specific agency before you commit.
Why an agency partner can pay more — up to $23/hr
When a licensed provider agency delivers the care instead of a self-directed family caregiver, the agency bills Medicaid at its own contracted provider rate — which is higher than the $17.13/hr individual rate — and pays its caregiver employees out of that. Through CarePay Michigan's participating agency partners, that can mean up to $23 per hour for the caregiver, plus the agency handling hiring, backup coverage, and payroll on top of it. That's the real trade-off between the self-directed and agency paths: self-direction keeps the full $17.13/hr with you and keeps everything in-house, while going through an agency can pay more per hour and hands off the administrative work.
Which one's right for your family? If a family member is already willing and able to provide care, self-direction is usually the simpler path. If no family member is available, or your family would rather have a trained caregiver with backup coverage, one of our licensed agency partners — paying up to $23/hr — is often the better fit. We can walk through both with you.
How approved hours turn into pay
Pay isn't a flat monthly stipend — it's hourly, tied to actual care provided. The sequence looks like this: MDHHS approves a number of monthly hours based on the home assessment, the caregiver logs the hours they actually work through EVV, and payment is issued based on verified hours — at $17.13/hr for self-directed individual providers, or up to $23/hr for caregivers placed with an agency partner. If fewer hours are worked than approved in a given period, pay reflects the hours actually logged — not the full approved amount.
EVV and getting paid
Electronic Visit Verification isn't a separate hurdle — it's the mechanism that turns hours into pay. Each visit is clocked in and out through the HHAeXchange+ app or a telephony line, and that verified data is what MDHHS uses to process payment. Payments are typically issued via direct deposit into the enrolled provider's bank account once hours are verified and submitted.
Practical tip: missed or incomplete EVV clock-ins are one of the most common reasons caregivers see payment delays. Getting comfortable with the app in the first week matters more than people expect.
A note on taxes
Tax treatment of Home Help pay depends on your specific caregiving arrangement — including factors like whether the caregiver lives with the care recipient, which can affect how the income is classified. This is a real, individualized tax question, and general guidance (including this page) isn't a substitute for advice from a tax professional who can look at your specific situation.
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