Kansas's Frail Elderly waiver pays for personal care at home for people 65 or older, and the person getting care can hire a family member, including an adult child, as the paid worker., Before any caregiver pay can start, your parent applies by calling Kansas's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-855-200-2372.

In This Guide

Which Family Caregivers Can Be Paid on the Kansas Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver?

On the Kansas FE waiver, your parent can self-direct: they choose, train, monitor and, if needed, dismiss their own worker. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) PCS and Limitations Policy, effective October 1, 2026, says family caregivers are allowable as documented in waiver language.

Your relationship Can you be paid?
Adult child or other relative Yes, if named the best available worker
Spouse Only by exception, if extraordinary care is assessed (KDADS's FE page says no)
Relative who lives in the home Yes for PCS; night-time Enhanced Care only for a legally responsible person, such as a spouse, with an MCO exception
Court-appointed guardian Only if the probate court finds conflicts of interest mitigated
Activated durable power of attorney Only if a Designated Representative directs care

The approved Kansas FE waiver (KS.0303.R06.01, effective July 1, 2026) sets these conditions for a paid relative: the Person-Centered Service Plan must name you the best available appropriate PCS worker, and the MCO needs assessment sets the scope, duration and amount of your services.

KDADS's Self-Direction Toolkit says a family member living in the house can't provide night-time help through Enhanced Care Service (also called Sleep Cycle Support). The approved Kansas FE waiver lets someone living in the home provide Enhanced Care only if they're a legally responsible person, such as a spouse, and the MCO grants an exception.

Stepping in as your parent's guardian or power of attorney can be what blocks your pay: KDADS's FE page says the paid family member can't be someone appointed by the member or a court to represent them. The approved Kansas FE waiver pays a court-appointed guardian only if the probate court finds all potential conflicts of interest mitigated under K.S.A. 59-3068, and an activated durable power of attorney only if a Designated Representative is appointed to direct your parent's care.

Can a Spouse Be the Paid FE Caregiver in Kansas?

Yes: the approved Kansas FE waiver says Personal Care Services "may be used to pay spouses of enrollees." Under the Kansas FE waiver, a paid spouse must meet the provider qualifications, the MCO needs assessment decides whether extraordinary care is required, and choosing a spouse as the care provider must be documented in the Person-Centered Service Plan.,

KDADS's FE program page still says the paid family member "cannot be a spouse," and KDADS's 2015 manual requires the MCO's written approval of a spousal exception. Ask the care coordinator: "Does the needs assessment find extraordinary care, and will you approve me in writing as the paid PCS worker?" For limits on paid spouses and VA options, see how to get paid to care for your spouse in Kansas.

Hours and Pay for a Kansas Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver Family Caregiver

The approved FE waiver caps PCS at 48 units (12 hours) a day, and self-direction is only available for Level I PCS. KDADS's PCS policy lets the MCO authorize more than 12 hours a day when the participant meets listed criteria, but the same policy says an approved waiver overrides it where the two conflict. All Kansas FE waiver PCS workers, spouses included, must use Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for hours paid. If the MCO denies or cuts PCS hours, your parent can appeal to the MCO and then ask for a state fair hearing; the deadlines are in Kansas Medicaid appeals and fair hearings.

Before you cut back at your own job, ask the care coordinator how many hours the plan authorizes. Your actual wage is your parent's call as the employer. KDADS's FMS manual says the participant sets the worker's rate within the Medicaid reimbursed rate minus required tax withholdings, unemployment and workers' compensation deductions, and it prohibits the FMS provider from setting wages or benefits.

Setting Up Financial Management Services

Kansas runs Financial Management Services (FMS) on the Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent model: your parent is the sole employer of their worker and must have a federal employer identification number (FEIN) in their own name. The FMS, acting as your parent's agent, processes payroll, withholds and files federal, state and local taxes, and submits the documents for your background check.

KDADS's FMS manual says a participant's representative can't also be their direct service worker, so if you'll be the paid worker, someone else holds that role.

How to Start Getting Paid as an FE Caregiver

1
Step 1

Call the ADRC

It provides options counseling and refers your parent for an FE Functional Eligibility Assessment.

2
Step 2

Apply for KanCare, Kansas Medicaid, through the KanCare Clearinghouse at 1-800-792-4884

See [how to apply for Kansas Medicaid](/medicaid/kansas/how-to-apply) and [how Kansas HCBS waivers work](/medicaid/kansas/hcbs-waivers).
3
Step 3

Build the care plan with the MCO care coordinator

Ask to self-direct PCS, with you named the best available worker.,

4
Step 4

Enroll with an FMS provider

5
Step 5

Start work and log your hours in EVV

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my parent is under 65?

Kansas's Physical Disability (PD) waiver serves people 16 to 64 who meet a nursing facility level of care and Social Security's disability standards, and it lets participants self-direct PCS. The PD waiver has a waiting list, and offers depend on when funds are released.

Is my FE waiver pay taxable income?

It may not be if your parent lives with you. Under IRS Notice 2014-7, qualified Medicaid waiver payments for personal care of someone who lives in your home may be excluded from your federal gross income, but not if you keep a separate home of your own. FICA payroll taxes are a separate question. See are Medicaid waiver payments taxable.

Learn More

CaregiverHow to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in KansasHow to get paid to care for a family member in Kansas in 2026: HCBS waiver self-direction, who can be hired, the spouse and co-resident rules, and VA options. CaregiverHow to Get Paid to Care for Your Spouse in KansasCan you get paid to care for your spouse in Kansas? Sometimes: the approved FE waiver may pay a spouse for extraordinary care, and VA's PCAFC can too. CaregiverCaregiver Programs in KansasEvery caregiver program in Kansas: HCBS waiver self-direction, who can be paid, respite, NFCSP grants, VA benefits, and taxes explained for 2026. 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. CaregiverWhat Electronic Visit Verification Means When You're Paid to Care for FamilyElectronic visit verification records six things per visit. Federal rules require location only at clock-in and clock-out; your state may require more.

Find personalized help getting paid through the Kansas Frail Elderly waiver 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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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.