Indiana caregiver programs include two Medicaid waiver services that can pay a family caregiver. Federal grants also fund caregiver support provided by area agencies on aging, and the VA pays a monthly stipend to the Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible veteran.,,,

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 Paid By
Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) Pays a caregiver who lives in the home; a spouse is paid only when the waiver's conditions are met (under Health & Wellness and TBI, extraordinary care through a provider agency) PathWays or Health & Wellness waiver members who meet nursing facility level of care Medicaid waiver
Attendant Care (ATTC) Pays other relatives of an adult for approved hours; spouses barred since 7/2024 outside a narrow extraordinary-care allowance Health & Wellness, TBI or PathWays waiver members Medicaid waiver
NFCSP caregiver support Information, counseling, support groups, training, respite, limited supplemental services Caregivers of adults 60+ or of a person of any age with Alzheimer's or a related disorder Older Americans Act grant, via local agencies
VA PCAFC Monthly tax-free stipend for primary family caregiver; pays spouses Veteran with a 70%+ VA disability rating who also meets VA's other listed requirements, including VA health care enrollment VA
VA Aid and Attendance Pension of up to $29,093/yr for a single veteran, less countable income Veteran or surviving spouse who gets a VA pension (a benefit for wartime veterans) and meets one of VA's listed care needs; $163,699 net-worth limit VA

Indiana Caregiver Programs That Pay Family Members

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 allows a caregiver living with an individual to be paid for providing daily care and support. The caregiver may be a family member or a nonfamily member and must reside in the home with the individual. FSSA lists a spouse among those who may provide structured family care.

For a spouse, there are conditions. Under the approved Health and Wellness and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) waiver applications, a spouse is paid for SFC only when it is extraordinary care: day-to-day care that exceeds what a spouse would ordinarily provide for a person of the same age without a disability or chronic illness. Payment for that care is made only to an approved provider agency, never directly to the spouse. The PathWays waiver amendment approved effective Aug. 1, 2026 likewise pays a spouse for SFC only when its stated conditions are met; ask the care coordinator or agency how they apply.

SFC is delivered through a certified provider agency. The provider trains the caregiver based on the individual's needs, ensures the caregiver meets the qualifications to provide care, and completes two quarterly home visits by a Caregiver Coach (or RN).,

What SFC pays: Indiana pays the SFC provider agency a daily rate by assessed level of need. FSSA's February 2024 comparison lists $77.54 a day at Level 1, $99.71 at Level 2 and $133.44 at Level 3, and the IHCP's policy table effective July 1, 2025 repeats the same figures. That is the agency's rate, not the caregiver's pay. Since July 1, 2025, the agency must use at least 60% of the daily rate for caregiver stipends and the individual providing the direct service, but caregiver coach and nurse supervision expenses and any respite costs also count inside that 60%, so ask the agency what share you will actually be paid.

SFC is available under PathWays for Aging and the Health and Wellness waiver. CMS's description of the PathWays waiver says it serves people 65 or older, and people 60 to 64 with physical or other disabilities, who meet nursing facility level of care.

Who qualifies (recipient): Indiana Medicaid lists four requirements for PathWays waiver services: be aged, blind or otherwise disabled; live in or be moving into a home or community setting rather than an institution; have income no greater than 300% of the maximum SSI amount, which Indiana Medicaid states as monthly income of up to $2,982 effective March 1, 2026, counting only the individual's income; and meet nursing facility level of care. The asset limit is $2,000 (single) or $3,000 (married).

For the full guide to SFC: Indiana Structured Family Caregiving. For how the model works in other states, see our national guide to structured family caregiving.

Attendant Care (ATTC)

Attendant Care is a waiver service under the Health & Wellness, Traumatic Brain Injury and PathWays waivers. Who can be paid to provide it depends on the relationship, the waiver, and, since the end of 2025, the person's nursing needs.

Who can be the ATTC worker: For an adult recipient, FSSA's 2024 guidance lets other relatives provide approved hours of attendant care, and a legal guardian up to 40 hours per week. Under the Health & Wellness and TBI waivers, from Jan. 1, 2026, each paid relative or legal guardian who is not a legally responsible individual is capped at 40 hours per week. Someone holding power of attorney can provide paid attendant care when the recipient and the POA live together. Under the PathWays waiver amendment approved effective Aug. 1, 2026, Attendant Care, Home and Community Assistance (HCA) and Skilled Respite paid to a relative or legal guardian who is not a legally responsible individual must not exceed 40 hours per week combined for each paid caregiver (the amendment's own Attendant Care limit still says 40 hours for Attendant Care alone, so confirm hours with the care coordinator). A relative is paid through an FSSA-approved provider agency, or through the financial management services (FMS) vendor when the care is self-directed, never directly, and a legal guardian is paid only through an agency, not when the care is self-directed.

Spouses: FSSA's 2024 guidance defines legally responsible individuals (LRIs) as the parent of a minor child or a spouse; under the PathWays waiver amendment approved effective Aug. 1, 2026, LRIs include only the spouse. Beginning in July 2024, a spouse may not provide attendant care, though a spouse may provide SFC instead, subject to the SFC conditions described above. That bar is no longer absolute. Under waivers effective Dec. 31, 2025, an LRI may be paid for Attendant Care only as extraordinary care for intensive nursing needs, such as tracheostomy care, continuous ventilator management or total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The care must be in the Person-Centered Plan and approved by the Individualized Support Team and FSSA, on a request the case manager or service coordinator submits with a physician's certification (Form 450B).

Under the Health & Wellness and TBI waivers, that LRI Attendant Care cannot be participant-directed, is paid only to an FSSA-approved provider agency, and is capped at 40 hours per week in total. The PathWays waiver amendment approved effective Aug. 1, 2026 now states the same three limits for PathWays. Indiana law also bars LRIs from being paid for self-directed attendant care.

What ATTC pays: Indiana pays the provider agency $34.36 per hour of direct service, the figure on FSSA's February 2024 comparison and in the IHCP's policy table effective July 1, 2025. That is the agency's rate, not the caregiver's wage. Since July 1, 2025, the agency must use at least 70% of that hourly rate for compensation for direct services, but that 70% includes wages, employee-related expenses, and administration and overhead costs, so ask what you will be paid.

How to Apply for SFC or ATTC

Because both paid pathways run through Indiana Medicaid and an HCBS waiver, here is the practical order of operations, from eligibility to choosing who provides the care.

1
Step 1

Confirm Medicaid and waiver eligibility

PathWays waiver services require the care recipient to be aged, blind or otherwise disabled, live in a home or community setting, have income no greater than 300% of the maximum SSI amount (monthly income of up to $2,982, effective March 1, 2026, counting only the individual's income), have assets of no more than $2,000 (single) or $3,000 (married), and meet nursing facility level of care. Waiver slots are limited, and people eligible for waiver services may be placed on a waitlist.

2
Step 2

Choose a PathWays health plan and meet your coordinators

PathWays members age 60 and older pick one of three health plans (Anthem, Humana, or UnitedHealthcare), and each member has a care coordinator and a services coordinator.,

3
Step 3

Choose your paid-caregiver pathway

Tell your coordinator whether a caregiver who lives in the home will provide Structured Family Caregiving or another relative will provide Attendant Care. A spouse is paid for SFC only under the spouse conditions described in the SFC section above; a spouse may provide Attendant Care only under the extraordinary-care allowance for intensive nursing needs, approved by the Individualized Support Team and FSSA.,

4
Step 4

Complete provider setup

For SFC, the caregiver works through a certified SFC provider agency, which ensures the caregiver meets the qualifications to provide care and provides training. For ATTC, a spouse or parent of a minor cannot be paid for self-directed attendant care.,

Respite Care Programs

PathWays Waiver Respite

CMS's description of the PathWays for Aging waiver lists skilled respite among its services, alongside adult day service and structured family caregiving. Ask your PathWays care coordinator whether respite can be added to the plan.

National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, makes grants to states, and its services are provided by an area agency on aging or an entity the agency contracts with. Those services are information about available services, help gaining access to them, individual counseling, support groups and caregiver training, respite care, and supplemental services on a limited basis.

Eligible caregivers include adult family members or other informal caregivers of someone 60 or older, or of someone of any age with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. Respite and supplemental services have one more condition: the person cared for must be frail, meaning unable to perform at least two activities of daily living without substantial help, or needing substantial supervision because of a cognitive or other mental impairment that leads them to behave in a way that poses a serious health or safety hazard to themselves or someone else. Ask your local agency whether any cost or income test applies.,

How to access: FSSA lists 800-713-9023 as the toll-free number for Indiana's Area Agencies on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Centers. The federal Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 also connects families to services for older adults.

For the full respite guide: Respite Care in Indiana.

Adult Day Programs

NFCSP respite can give temporary relief at home or in an adult day care or institutional setting, and CMS lists adult day service among PathWays waiver services. Ask your Area Agency on Aging or PathWays care coordinator about adult day options near you.,

Support, Training, and Area Agencies on Aging

Area agencies on aging, or entities they contract with, deliver NFCSP services in each state: caregiver information, help gaining access to services, individual counseling, support groups and caregiver training.

Call Indiana's Area Agency on Aging line at 800-713-9023 to reach local caregiver support. FSSA's Division of Aging has its own toll-free number, 888-673-0002.

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. It is federal tax-free and allows paid spouses. The stipend starts from the federal GS-4, Step 1 annual rate for the veteran's locality, divided by 12. That monthly base is then multiplied by a factor set in 38 CFR 71.40(c)(4)(i), and which factor applies depends on whether the veteran is in the current program or is a legacy participant or legacy applicant.

  • Current program (38 CFR 71.20(a)): the factor is 0.625, or 1.00 if VA determines the veteran is unable to self-sustain in the community.
  • Legacy participant or legacy applicant (38 CFR 71.20(b) or (c)): the factor comes instead from the sum of the veteran's 2019 clinical ratings, with no self-sustain determination required. A sum of 21 or higher pays 1.00, a sum of 13 to 20 pays 0.625, and a sum of 1 to 12 pays 0.25. This legacy schedule lapses October 1, 2028.

A veteran who meets both sets of criteria is paid whichever of the two amounts is higher, and a legacy participant's stipend cannot fall below what the caregiver was eligible to receive the day before October 1, 2020, for as long as the veteran remains at the address VA has on record.

VA lists four requirements, and all of them must be true for the veteran: a VA disability rating (individual or combined) of 70% or higher; discharge from the U.S. military or a date of medical discharge; a need for at least 6 months of continuous, in-person personal care services; and enrollment in VA health care. Those four are a first screen, not the whole test: VA says you may be eligible if you meet all of them, and you and the veteran then apply together and take part in an application process that decides eligibility.

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

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 across the state; use the VA Indiana locations directory to find the nearest one.

VA Aid and Attendance Pension

A veteran or surviving spouse who gets a VA pension may be eligible for Aid and Attendance if they meet at least one of VA's listed conditions, such as needing another person's help with daily activities like bathing, feeding, and dressing. The VA pension itself is for wartime veterans who meet age-or-disability requirements and income and net-worth limits. The net-worth limit is $163,699 from Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 30, 2026, counting assets and income for VA purposes. VA publishes the maximums as annual rates and pays only the difference between a claimant's countable income and that maximum, so someone with income receives less: a single veteran with Aid and Attendance can receive up to $29,093/year, and a veteran with one dependent up to $34,488/year. A surviving spouse with no dependents can receive up to $18,697/year with Aid and Attendance. VA pays pension monthly, computing the monthly amount from the annual figure less countable income, divided by 12.

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. You can also reach a VA Caregiver Support Coordinator through the Where to Get Help directory below.

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. It applies only when the care is given in the caregiver's own home, the place where the caregiver lives, and the person cared for lives there too. A live-in SFC caregiver can meet that test; a relative paid for Attendant Care who keeps a separate home where they live does not, and may not exclude that pay. Talk to a tax preparer familiar with this rule before filing.

Indiana State Income Tax

Indiana levies a flat individual income tax of 2.95% for 2026 plus county income taxes.

VA PCAFC Stipend

VA has described the PCAFC monthly stipend as "a nontaxable benefit."

Your next step 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

Can my spouse be paid to care for me in Indiana?

Possibly, through Structured Family Caregiving, but only under conditions. FSSA lists a spouse among those who may provide structured family care, and the caregiver must live in the home with the care recipient. Under the approved Health and Wellness and TBI waivers, a spouse is paid only for extraordinary care that goes beyond what a spouse would ordinarily provide, and payment goes to an approved provider agency, never directly to the spouse. Under the PathWays waiver amendment approved effective Aug. 1, 2026, a spouse is paid for SFC only when the amendment's stated conditions are met. Beginning in July 2024, a spouse may not provide Attendant Care, except under the extraordinary-care allowance for intensive nursing needs such as tracheostomy care or continuous ventilator management.

What is the difference between SFC and ATTC?

SFC pays a caregiver who lives in the home with the care recipient to provide daily care and support, through a certified provider agency that trains the caregiver and makes quarterly home visits. ATTC pays an attendant for approved hours of care, and other relatives of an adult recipient can provide it. A spouse can provide SFC, though under the Health and Wellness and TBI waivers a spouse is paid only for extraordinary care, and under PathWays only when the waiver amendment's stated conditions are met; a spouse may provide ATTC only under the narrow extraordinary-care allowance.,

How much does Structured Family Caregiving pay?

Indiana pays the SFC provider agency, not the caregiver, $77.54, $99.71 or $133.44 a day by level of need (FSSA, February 2024; the same figures in the IHCP's table effective July 1, 2025). Caregiver coach, nurse supervision and respite costs count inside the agency's 60% minimum passthrough, so ask the agency what share you will be paid.

Who qualifies for PathWays for Aging?

PathWays is for Hoosiers age 60 and older who receive Medicaid (or dual Medicare-Medicaid benefits) and are eligible for a full-coverage aged, blind or disabled category. Its waiver services, such as SFC, also require nursing facility level of care and income of no more than 300% of the maximum SSI amount, which Indiana Medicaid states as $2,982 per month effective March 1, 2026, counting only the individual's income. The asset limit is $2,000 (single) or $3,000 (married).

How do I find my regional Area Agency on Aging?

Call 800-713-9023, the toll-free number FSSA lists for Indiana's Area Agencies on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Centers, or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. Area agencies on aging provide NFCSP services such as respite, counseling and caregiver training.,

Where to Get Help in Indiana

Indiana Area Agencies on Aging (INconnect Alliance) FSSA lists this toll-free number for Indiana's Area Agencies on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Centers. FSSA's Division of Aging has its own toll-free number, 888-673-0002. 800-713-9023 www.in.gov/fssa/ddars/bba/contact-us
Eldercare Locator A public service of the Administration for Community Living that connects families to services for older adults. 1-800-677-1116 eldercare.acl.gov
VA Caregiver Support Line VA's toll-free line for caregivers of veterans, staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. It can connect you to your local VA Caregiver Support Program team. 1-855-260-3274 www.caregiver.va.gov

Learn More

CaregiverCaregiver Programs: The 50-State GuideA directory of caregiver programs in all 50 states: paid family caregiver pathways, respite, NFCSP grants, and VA benefits. Find your state's complete guide. CaregiverMedicaid Self-Direction and Consumer-Directed ServicesHow Medicaid self-direction lets a family member be your paid caregiver: employer authority, budget authority, the 1915(j) spouse rule, and how to get started. CaregiverThe National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP): A Complete GuideWhat the National Family Caregiver Support Program funds, who is eligible, and how to reach respite and caregiver support through your Area Agency on Aging. CaregiverHow to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in IndianaHow to get paid caring for a family member in Indiana: Structured Family Caregiving, PathWays for Aging, who can be hired, spouse rules, and VA options. CaregiverIndiana Structured Family CaregivingIndiana Structured Family Caregiving pays a relative who lives with the person, through an agency; a spouse only for extraordinary care. Rates, first call. CaregiverIndiana Attendant Care: Can a Family Member Be Paid?Indiana Attendant Care family caregiver pay: an adult child or relative can be the paid attendant, up to 40 hours a week; a spouse only for nursing care. CaregiverRespite Care in IndianaRespite care in Indiana: Structured Family Caregiving that can pay a live-in relative or spouse, NFCSP respite through local agencies, and VA respite. CaregiverCaregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get SupportHow to recognize caregiver burnout, why it happens, and what actually helps, from respite care to evidence-based programs like REACH II and Powerful Tools. VA BenefitsVA Senior Care Benefits in IndianaVA benefits in Indiana cover home care, nursing homes, an Aid and Attendance pension of up to $34,488 a year, and the Indiana Veterans' Home. How to use each. MedicaidMedicaid Planning StrategiesSee which assets you keep, how the 5-year look-back works, and the legal moves that qualify you for Medicaid long-term care without losing the house.

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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