Indiana has two Medicaid pathways that pay family caregivers, plus respite grants, VA benefits, and 16 Area Agencies on Aging that most families never call.

If you are caring for an aging parent, a spouse, or an adult child with a disability in Indiana, there is help available that does not come out of your savings. The hard part is knowing where to look. This guide maps every major caregiver program in Indiana in 2026: who pays, who qualifies, and where to start.

You don't have to figure this out alone.

In This Guide

Indiana Caregiver Programs at a Glance

Program What It Offers Who Qualifies Cost to You
Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) Live-in caregiver receives a tax-free daily stipend; spouse can be the paid caregiver PathWays, Health & Wellness, A&D waiver enrollees who need nursing-facility level of care Free (paid by Medicaid via MCE)
Attendant Care (ATTC) Non-spouse family member hired hourly; LRI/spouse cannot start new ATTC since 7/1/2024 Same waiver eligibility as SFC; caregiver must not be LRI Free (paid by Medicaid via MCE)
NFCSP respite grants Free in-home respite, adult day vouchers, caregiver training, counseling Caregivers of adults 60+ or person with ADRD; no income test Free
VA PCAFC Monthly tax-free stipend for primary family caregiver; pays spouses Veteran with 70%+ service-connected disability in VA health care Free (VA benefit)
VA Aid and Attendance Pension up to $2,424/mo to veteran; caregiver paid from it Wartime veteran or surviving spouse at nursing-facility level, under net-worth limit Free to apply (VSO help)

Programs That Pay Family Caregivers

Indiana has two main pathways through PathWays for Aging and the HCBS waivers that can put wages into a family caregiver's hands.

Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)

Structured Family Caregiving is Indiana's most distinctive program. A live-in caregiver provides daily support and receives a tax-free daily stipend through a contracted SFC provider agency rather than an hourly wage. The standout: a spouse can be the paid caregiver.

The daily stipend is set by the state Medicaid rate and the MCE must pay at least that amount. Confirm the current tier amounts with the MCE or SFC provider agency before planning around a specific figure. The caregiver must be at least 18, pass a background check, and be deemed capable of providing care.

SFC is available through PathWays for Aging (age 60+), the Health and Wellness waiver, and the Aged and Disabled waiver.

Who qualifies (recipient): Medicaid-eligible, enrolled in an HCBS waiver, needs nursing-facility level of care, lives full-time with the caregiver. Income up to approximately $2,982 per month and assets up to $2,000.

For the full guide to SFC: How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Indiana.

Attendant Care (ATTC)

Attendant Care is Indiana's hourly self-directed option. The waiver participant directs their own attendant (choosing, hiring, training, and managing them) and a fiscal agent handles payroll.

Who can be the ATTC worker: An adult child, sibling, other relative, or friend who is not the participant's spouse or legally responsible individual (LRI). Since July 1, 2024, a spouse or parent of a minor cannot start a new ATTC arrangement. Spouses who want to be paid should use SFC instead.

ATTC is also available through PathWays and the HCBS waivers. The MCE care coordinator assigns an appropriate fiscal agent.

Respite Care Programs

PathWays MCE Respite

Once enrolled in PathWays or an HCBS waiver, the care plan can include authorized respite hours delivered through the MCE. Contact the Anthem, Humana, or UnitedHealthcare care coordinator to add respite hours to the plan.

NFCSP Grants Through Indiana's 16 Area Agencies on Aging

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through the Indiana FSSA Division of Aging to 16 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Services include in-home respite, adult day vouchers, caregiver training, and counseling. No income test for NFCSP respite services.

How to access: Call 1-800-986-3505 (FSSA Division of Aging) or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.

For the full respite guide: Respite Care in Indiana.

Adult Day Programs

Indiana's adult day programs are licensed by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). A few days per week in an adult day program can return consistent weekday hours to the caregiver while providing structure and social engagement for the care recipient. Your regional AAA maintains a county directory; call 1-800-986-3505 for referrals.

Support, Training, and Area Agencies on Aging

Indiana's 16 Area Agencies on Aging are the front door for most caregiver support programs. They deliver NFCSP services, adult day referrals, caregiver training, counseling, and local resource information. Every county is served.

Call the Indiana FSSA Division of Aging at 1-800-986-3505 to be connected with your regional AAA. This call is free and has no obligation. A counselor will assess what programs are available for your situation, whether your loved one is enrolled in PathWays or not.

The Indiana FSSA Division of Aging also coordinates the state's response to elder caregiving needs, including program oversight for PathWays for Aging and the HCBS waivers.

VA Caregiver Benefits in Indiana

Veterans enrolled in VA health care in Indiana have access to a parallel set of caregiver support programs that are separate from Medicaid and often more generous.

VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

The PCAFC pays a monthly stipend to the Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible veteran. The stipend is calculated from the federal GS-4, Step 1 annual rate for the veteran's locality, divided by 12, then multiplied by a level factor. It is federal tax-free and allows paid spouses.

To qualify: the veteran must have a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher, need in-person personal care for at least six continuous months, and be enrolled in VA health care.

Other PCAFC benefits for the Primary Family Caregiver include CHAMPVA health insurance (if uninsured), at least 30 days of respite per year, mental health counseling, and legal and financial planning support.

Indiana VA facilities: The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis is the main VA medical center in Indiana, with community-based outpatient clinics in Fort Wayne, Bloomington, Crown Point, Terre Haute, and elsewhere.

VA Aid and Attendance Pension

Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who meet the functional criteria and have countable assets and income under the net-worth limit ($163,699 in 2026) may receive the Aid and Attendance pension. A single veteran with Aid and Attendance receives up to $2,424 per month ($29,093/year); a veteran with one dependent up to $2,874 per month. The pension goes to the veteran, who typically pays a family caregiver from it.

Apply at no cost: The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and county Veterans Service Officers help veterans file at no cost. Avoid for-profit pension consultants.

VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274

Taxes for Indiana Caregivers

IRS Notice 2014-7

If you live in the same home as the person you care for and are paid through a Medicaid waiver program, your wages may be excluded from federal gross income under IRS Notice 2014-7. This applies to many Indiana SFC and ATTC arrangements. Talk to a tax preparer familiar with this rule before filing.

Indiana State Income Tax

Indiana levies a flat individual income tax of approximately 2.95% for 2026 plus county income taxes. Because Indiana starts from federal adjusted gross income, the IRS Notice 2014-7 exclusion generally flows through to the Indiana return.

SFC Stipend

The SFC daily stipend is structured as a tax-free payment in most circumstances. Confirm the specific treatment with a tax preparer.

VA PCAFC Stipend

The PCAFC monthly stipend is federal tax-free and is not reported on a W-2.

Not sure which Indiana caregiver program fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized comparison based on your loved one's age, Medicaid enrollment, and whether you are a spouse or non-spouse caregiver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, through Structured Family Caregiving. SFC explicitly allows a spouse as the live-in paid caregiver under PathWays and the HCBS waivers. The caregiver must be at least 18, pass a background check, and live full-time with the care recipient. Attendant Care (ATTC) does not allow spouses for new arrangements since July 1, 2024.

SFC is a live-in model paying a daily stipend; the caregiver provides comprehensive daily support and lives with the care recipient. ATTC is a self-directed hourly model; the care recipient directs an attendant for help with specific daily activities. SFC allows spouses and is the route for co-resident caregivers; ATTC is for non-spouse family members.

The rate is set by Indiana Medicaid and the MCE must pay at least that amount. The specific dollar figure varies by care tier. Confirm the current rates with the SFC provider agency or MCE before planning around a specific number.

Hoosiers age 60 and older who receive Medicaid (or dual Medicare-Medicaid benefits), need nursing-facility level of care, and have income up to approximately $2,982 per month and assets up to $2,000.

Call the Indiana FSSA Division of Aging at 1-800-986-3505 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. Indiana has 16 AAAs serving every county; they are the starting point for NFCSP respite grants, adult day program referrals, and caregiver training.

Learn More

Find personalized help navigating Indiana caregiver programs at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.