Kansas pays family members to provide care through HCBS waiver self-direction, with stricter rules than most states. Add respite grants and VA benefits.

If you are caring for an aging parent, a spouse, or an adult child with a disability in Kansas, the hard part is rarely whether help exists. It is knowing what is there and where to start. This guide maps every major caregiver program in the state for 2026.

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to fund all of it from your savings.

In This Guide

Kansas Caregiver Programs at a Glance

Program What It Offers Who Qualifies Cost to You
FE Waiver self-directed Attendant Care Non-co-resident relative or friend hired as paid attendant Age 65+, nursing-facility level of care, KanCare-eligible Free (paid by Medicaid)
PD Waiver self-directed PCS/ECS Self-directed personal care; ECS allows a co-resident relative Adults with physical disabilities, KanCare-eligible Free (paid by Medicaid)
NFCSP respite grants Free in-home respite, adult day vouchers, training, counseling Caregivers of adults 60+ or person with ADRD; no income test Free
VA PCAFC Monthly tax-free stipend; pays spouses Veteran with 70%+ 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 under net-worth limit Free to apply (VSO help)

Programs That Pay Family Caregivers

HCBS Waiver Self-Direction

Kansas HCBS waivers are administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) under KanCare (Kansas Medicaid). They offer self-direction, in which the participant chooses, trains, monitors, and dismisses their own workers, with a Financial Management Services agency handling payroll. The two waivers covering most older adults and people with physical disabilities are the Frail Elderly (FE) waiver (age 65+ at a nursing-facility level of care) and the Physical Disability (PD) waiver (adults with physical disabilities).

The spouse and family rules are stricter than in many states. The paid worker cannot be the participant's spouse, a person with an Activated Durable Power of Attorney, or a guardian or conservator. A relative who lives in the same household as the participant generally cannot be hired, unless they are providing Enhanced Care Services (ECS), which covers more intensive needs. Friends and family members who do not live with the participant, and who are not the spouse or legal representative, may be hired and paid.

For the full guide to paid pathways: How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Kansas.

Respite Care Programs

Medicaid Respite (FE and PD Waivers)

The Frail Elderly and Physical Disability waivers authorize respite as a covered service within the member's care plan. Ask your KanCare case manager to include respite hours.

NFCSP Grants Through Kansas's 11 Area Agencies on Aging

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through KDADS to 11 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Services include in-home respite, adult day vouchers, caregiver training, and counseling, with no income test for respite services. Call 1-855-200-2372 (Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center).

For the full respite guide: Respite Care in Kansas.

Support, Training, and Area Agencies

Kansas's 11 Area Agencies on Aging, reachable through the statewide Aging and Disability Resource Center, are the front door for most caregiver support that is not tied to a Medicaid waiver. They deliver NFCSP services, adult day referrals, caregiver training, counseling, and local resource information.

Call 1-855-200-2372 (Kansas ADRC) to reach your regional AAA, or dial 211 for the broader social-services network. These calls are free. A counselor will identify what is available in your area and help you start an application.

If your loved one is enrolled in the FE or PD waiver, the KanCare case manager is your key contact for adjusting the care plan, including adding respite or arranging a paid family worker.

VA Caregiver Benefits in Kansas

Veterans enrolled in VA health care in Kansas have access to 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 needs a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher, a need for in-person personal care for at least six continuous months, and enrollment in VA health care.

Because Kansas HCBS self-direction excludes spouses, the PCAFC stipend and Veteran-Directed Care are often the routes through which a Kansas spouse can be paid to provide care.

Kansas VA facilities: The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, and the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka are the main VA medical centers.

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.

The Kansas Office of Veterans Services and county Veterans Service Officers help file at no cost.

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

Taxes for Kansas Caregivers

IRS Notice 2014-7

If you live in the same home as the person you care for and are paid through a Medicaid program, your wages may be excluded from federal gross income under IRS Notice 2014-7. Because Kansas's co-resident rules limit which household members can be paid, fewer arrangements may qualify, but the Enhanced Care Services exception can apply. Talk to a tax preparer familiar with the rule before filing.

Kansas State Income Tax

Kansas levies a graduated individual income tax. Because Kansas starts from federal adjusted gross income, the IRS Notice 2014-7 exclusion generally flows through to the Kansas return. Confirm the current rates with the Kansas Department of Revenue.

VA PCAFC Stipend

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

Not sure which Kansas caregiver program fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized comparison based on your loved one's KanCare enrollment, veteran status, and whether you live together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not through Kansas HCBS self-direction, which excludes a spouse, guardian, conservator, and POA from being the paid worker. If your spouse is a veteran enrolled in VA care, the PCAFC stipend and Veteran-Directed Care can pay a spouse.

Generally not under standard self-directed Attendant Care, which excludes co-resident relatives. The exception is Enhanced Care Services (ECS), which covers higher-acuity needs and does allow a co-resident family member to be paid. Ask your KanCare case manager whether ECS applies.

The Frail Elderly (FE) waiver for people age 65 and older at a nursing-facility level of care, and the Physical Disability (PD) waiver for adults with physical disabilities. Both offer self-directed attendant care through KanCare.

Yes. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides free respite through Kansas's 11 Area Agencies on Aging with no income test. Call 1-855-200-2372.

Call 1-855-200-2372 (Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center) to reach your regional AAA, or dial 211. Kansas has 11 AAAs serving every county; they handle NFCSP respite grants, adult day referrals, and caregiver training.

Learn More

Find personalized help navigating Kansas 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.

BC

Brevy Care Team

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