How to Apply for Michigan’s Home Help Program: Step-by-Step Guide

Michigan’s Home Help Program is one of the most accessible paid family caregiving programs in the country — but “accessible” doesn’t mean the application process is self-explanatory. There are steps, there are offices, there is paperwork, and if you don’t know the sequence, things stall.  This guide walks you through every step, from the very first phone call to the day your family caregiver receives their first paycheck.

Step 1: Confirm Medicaid Eligibility

Your loved one must be enrolled in Medicaid before they can access the Home Help Program. If they’re already receiving Medicaid benefits, skip to Step 2. If not, the application process starts here.

How to apply for Michigan Medicaid:
The fastest route is through MI Bridges at newmibridges.michigan.gov — the state’s online benefits portal. You can create an account, complete the application, and upload supporting documents entirely online. You’ll need your loved one’s Social Security number, proof of Michigan residency, proof of identity, income documentation (Social Security benefit letters, pension statements, pay stubs, or tax returns), and bank statements and asset documentation.

You can also apply in person at your local MDHHS (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services) office. In the Detroit area, Wayne County has multiple MDHHS offices. Calling ahead to confirm office hours, required documents, and whether you need an appointment can save you a wasted trip.

A third option is calling the MDHHS Beneficiary Help Line. A representative can walk you through the application process and, in some cases, take application information over the phone.

For individuals who receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), Medicaid eligibility is generally automatic in Michigan. If your loved one is already on SSI, they should already have Medicaid coverage — confirm this before starting a new application.

Medicaid processing times vary. Standard applications are typically processed within 45 days, though urgent situations (such as a pending hospital discharge) may qualify for expedited review. If you haven’t heard back within 30 days of submission, follow up with the local MDHHS office.

Step 2: Request a Home Help Assessment

Once Medicaid is active, the next step is requesting a Home Help assessment. Contact your local MDHHS office and tell them your family member needs a Home Help evaluation. In Wayne County (Detroit), you can also reach out to the
Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) at (313)446-4444 for guidance on getting started.

An MDHHS adult services caseworker will be assigned to your case. The caseworker schedules a
functional needs assessment, which is conducted in your loved one’s home. This is the single most important step in the process — the assessment determines both whether your loved one qualifies for Home Help and how many care hours they’ll receive.

How the assessment works:

The caseworker visits the home and evaluates your loved one’s ability to perform daily activities independently. They observe and score needs across multiple categories: bathing and personal hygiene, dressing and grooming, eating and meal preparation, mobility and transferring (getting in and out of bed, chairs, the shower), toileting and incontinence management, medication management, housekeeping and laundry, and grocery shopping and errands.
Each category receives a score based on how much assistance is needed. The combined score determines the total number of authorized care hours per month.

Tips for a productive assessment:

Be honest and thorough. This isn’t the time to demonstrate that your loved one can manage on their own. If they struggle with bathing, say so. If they’ve had falls, mention every one. If they need reminders for medications, explain the consequences when reminders don’t happen. The caseworker can only authorize hours based on the needs they document — if you understate the situation, the authorization will reflect that understatement.

Have documentation available. Medical records, hospital discharge summaries, doctors’ notes about functional limitations, and a medication list all support the case. You don’t have to provide these, but they help paint a complete picture.

If your loved one has good days and bad days, describe the bad days. The assessment should reflect the level of care needed to keep your loved one safe consistently, not just on their best day.

Step 3: Name Your Family Caregiver

After the assessment — assuming your loved one qualifies — the caseworker asks who will provide the care. This is the moment to name your chosen family member.

Michigan’s Home Help Program allows a wide range of family relationships: adult children, parents of adults, siblings, grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Spouses can be named in certain circumstances when the care needs exceed what would normally be expected in a marriage.

Make sure the family member you name is prepared to move forward with the enrollment process, since delays on the caregiver’s end can hold up the entire arrangement.

Step 4: Complete Provider Enrollment

The family member must register as an Individual Home Help Provider through MDHHS. This involves several components.

Background check:  Michigan conducts a criminal background screening on all Home Help providers. The specifics of the screening may include a Michigan State Police check and a national registry check. If the family member has certain criminal convictions, this could affect eligibility. However, not all convictions are automatically disqualifying — the nature and age of the offense matter.

Employment paperwork:  The family member completes forms establishing them as a provider, including tax-related documentation (W-4 or equivalent) and identification verification.  Michigan uses a centralized provider enrollment process through MDHHS.

Electronic timekeeping setup:  Michigan requires Home Help providers to log their hours through an electronic timekeeping system. The family member will be set up with access to this system and trained on how to submit hours. Accurate timekeeping is essential — it’s how the caregiver gets paid and how the state tracks services delivered.

The enrollment process can take two to four weeks once the assessment is complete.  Background check processing time is the most common variable. Starting the provider enrollment paperwork as soon as the assessment is scheduled — rather than waiting for the results — can save time.

Step 5: Begin Providing Care and Receiving Payment

Once the family member is enrolled as a provider, the care plan is finalized, and timekeeping access is active, services officially begin. The caregiver provides care according to the authorized plan, logs hours through the electronic timekeeping system, and receives payment from MDHHS on a biweekly schedule via direct deposit.

The care plan specifies which services are authorized and how many hours per month are approved. The caregiver should not exceed the authorized hours without first requesting and receiving approval for additional time — unapproved hours will not be paid.

After You’re Enrolled: What to Expect

Reassessments happen periodically.  MDHHS reviews Home Help cases to ensure the care plan still matches your loved one’s needs. If your loved one’s condition has worsened, a reassessment can result in more authorized hours. If it has improved, hours may be reduced. You can also request a reassessment at any time if circumstances change significantly.

The caregiver’s hours may fluctuate.  While the authorization sets a monthly maximum, some months the caregiver may work fewer hours (if the care recipient is hospitalized or temporarily away from home, for example). Hours are paused during hospitalizations and nursing facility stays.

Tax implications matter.  Home Help payments are generally taxable income, but the IRS “Difficulty of Care” exclusion (IRC Section 131) may apply if the caregiver lives in the same home as the care recipient. This can significantly reduce or eliminate the federal tax burden on caregiver earnings. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Common Roadblocks and How to Clear Them

“We never heard back after the Medicaid application.”  Follow up. MDHHS offices process ahigh volume of applications, and cases can fall through the cracks. Call the local office 30 days after submission if you haven’t received a determination.

“The assessment didn’t approve enough hours.”  You have the right to appeal. Request a hearing through MDHHS’s administrative process. Provide additional medical documentation and a detailed description of daily care needs to support your case.

“The background check is taking forever.”  Ask the caseworker for a status update. If the delay is on the state’s end, the caseworker may be able to escalate. If there’s an issue with the check itself, the caseworker can explain what’s needed to resolve it.

CareChoice Helps Detroit Families Through the Process

CareChoice serves Detroit-area families navigating the Home Help application process. From Medicaid enrollment to assessment preparation to provider onboarding, we help ensure nothing falls through the cracks and your family caregiver starts getting paid as quickly as possible.

Get started →Contact CareChoice in Detroit

Related reading:  How to Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in Michigan →|Michigan Home Help Program Explained →|How To Apply for Medicaid in Michigan →