Who Qualifies for Paid Family Caregiving in Michigan? Eligibility Breakdown

Michigan’s rules about who can serve as a paid family caregiver are among the most
generous in the country. Where Pennsylvania excludes spouses entirely and Texas
prohibits them with no exceptions, Michigan opens the door wider — including, in
certain cases, allowing a husband or wife to be paid for providing care. Here’s the
complete eligibility picture.

Care Recipient Eligibility

Your loved one qualifies for Michigan’s Home Help Program if they are a Michigan
resident enrolled in Medicaid, aged 65 or older, blind, or have a disability recognized
under Medicaid criteria, and have a functional need for help with daily activities as
confirmed by an MDHHS assessment.

For MI Choice, the bar is higher: the individual must meet a nursing-facility level of care.
But the additional services available through MI Choice — adult day, home modifications,
skilled nursing — make it the better fit for individuals with complex needs.

In our experience at CareChoice, most individuals who need regular hands-on help with
two or more daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility) will qualify for
at least the Home Help Program. The assessment threshold is lower than most Detroit
families expect.

Family Caregiver Eligibility

Who can be paid: Adult children, parents of adult children, siblings, grandchildren,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Basic requirements: 18 or older, legally authorized to work in the U.S., able to pass a
background check, physically and mentally capable of providing the required care.

What you DON’T need: No nursing license. No CNA. No professional caregiving
experience. In our experience onboarding family caregivers in Detroit, we find that the
family member who’s been helping their loved one for months or years is almost always
more capable than they give themselves credit for. The formal caregiving tasks —
bathing, dressing, meal prep, medication reminders — are things they’ve already been
doing.

Criminal Background Considerations

A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you in Michigan. The state evaluates
the nature, severity, and recency of the offense. Certain convictions — particularly those
involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults — will disqualify. But many
offenses, especially older non-violent offenses, may not prevent approval.

If you’re unsure, CareChoice can help you assess whether your situation is likely to be
an issue before you invest time in the full enrollment process.

What We See Across Detroit

The family caregivers we onboard in Wayne County reflect Detroit’s diversity. The
Bangladeshi daughter in Hamtramck caring for her father. The Black grandmother in the
East Side caring for her disabled adult grandson. The Arab American wife in Dearborn
caring for her husband after a stroke. Michigan’s inclusive eligibility rules mean that
virtually every family structure we encounter has a pathway to paid caregiving.

The barrier is almost never eligibility. It’s awareness. Most families we help had no idea
these programs existed until someone told them.

Find out if your family qualifies → Contact CareChoice in Detroit

Written by Shamere Dunswell, Community Relations Manager | CareChoice

Related: Get Paid to Care for Family in MI →| How to
Apply →