Kansas caregiver programs pay family members to provide care through HCBS waiver self-direction, though under stricter rules than most states. Free respite grants, VA stipends, and tax relief layer on top.

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.

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 $29,093/yr to veteran; caregiver paid from it Wartime veteran or surviving spouse under net-worth limit Free to apply (VSO help)

In This Guide

Who Can Get Paid to Provide Care in Kansas?

If you have already left a job, or cut your hours, to care for someone at home, being paid for that work is not a loophole. It is what these programs are designed to do.

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, while a Financial Management Services (FMS) agency handles payroll and taxes. The two waivers covering most older adults and people with physical disabilities are the Frail Elderly (FE) waiver (age 65 and older at a nursing-facility level of care) and the Physical Disability (PD) waiver (adults with physical disabilities).,

Kansas's rules on who can be paid are stricter than in many states. The paid worker cannot be the participant's spouse, a person holding 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, see: How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Kansas.

How to Apply for Kansas Caregiver Programs

1
Step 1

Call the Kansas ADRC to start

Dial the Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-855-200-2372, or dial 211, to reach your regional Area Agency on Aging. This one call opens both free NFCSP respite and the KanCare waiver conversation.

2
Step 2

Apply for KanCare and request a level-of-care assessment

To reach self-directed pay, the person you care for must first qualify for KanCare (Kansas Medicaid) and the FE or PD waiver, which requires a functional assessment showing a nursing-facility level of care. This is the gate to being paid.

3
Step 3

Set up self-direction through the FMS agency

Once the waiver is approved, ask your KanCare case manager to authorize self-directed Attendant Care (FE) or Personal Care and Enhanced Care Services (PD). A Financial Management Services agency then handles payroll and taxes for the worker you hire.

4
Step 4

If the person is a veteran, open the VA track in parallel

A Kansas Office of Veterans Services representative can help file a VA pension claim, including the non-service-connected pension that Aid and Attendance is added to, at no charge, and that track can run alongside a KanCare program.

Respite Care Programs in Kansas

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through KDADS to Kansas's 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) to reach your regional agency, or dial 211.,

The Frail Elderly and Physical Disability waivers can also authorize respite as a covered service within the member's care plan; ask your KanCare case manager to include respite hours. For the full respite guide, see: Respite Care in Kansas.

VA Caregiver Benefits in Kansas

If the person you care for served, this is often the most generous door of all, and in Kansas it is worth checking before you assume Medicaid is the only path. Veterans enrolled in VA health care have access to caregiver support programs that are separate from Medicaid and can often reach a spouse that Kansas HCBS self-direction cannot.

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 VA has stated the stipend is a nontaxable benefit, and it allows paid spouses. To qualify, the veteran needs a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher, a need for at least six months of continuous, in-person personal care, and enrollment in VA health care.

The stipend starts from the federal GS-4, Step 1 annual rate for the veteran's locality, divided by 12, then multiplied by a stipend factor. Under 38 CFR 71.40(c)(4)(i) that factor comes from one of two schedules, and which one applies depends on how the veteran qualifies:

  • Current program (the veteran was approved under the eligibility criteria now in force): 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 (the household was already in PCAFC, or had applied, before the program's October 1, 2020 expansion): the factor is set by the sum of the veteran's 2019 clinical ratings, and no self-sustain determination is required. It is 1.00 if that sum is 21 or higher, 0.625 if it is 13 to 20, and 0.25 if it is 1 to 12.

A veteran who meets both sets of criteria is paid at whichever factor is higher. That is worth checking before you accept a number: a legacy household whose 2019 ratings summed to 21 or more reaches 1.00 on the rating schedule alone, with no self-sustain finding involved. A legacy participant also has a floor, meaning the stipend cannot fall below what the caregiver was eligible for on September 30, 2020, for as long as the veteran remains at the address VA has on record. The legacy rules end on October 1, 2028. Ask your VA Caregiver Support Coordinator which schedule your household is on.

Veteran-Directed Care (VDC)

Veteran-Directed Care gives an enrolled veteran a flexible, self-directed monthly budget to hire their own personal-care workers, and, unlike Kansas Medicaid self-direction, that can include a spouse. The budget is set by clinical need, and a financial management services provider handles payroll. VDC is delivered through partnerships between VA medical centers and aging-network agencies and is offered at a subset of VA medical centers, so ask your VA social worker or caregiver support coordinator whether it is currently available at your facility. Kansas veterans receive VA care through the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita and the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System (Topeka and Leavenworth).

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. The VA sets these as annual maximums: a single veteran with Aid and Attendance receives up to $29,093 a year; a veteran with one dependent up to $34,488 a year. A monthly payment is that yearly award divided by 12. The pension goes to the veteran, who typically pays a family caregiver from it.

In Kansas, you do not file these claims alone. The Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS) staffs trained and accredited Veteran Service Representatives at field offices across the state who can help you file VA pension claims, including the non-service-connected pension that Aid and Attendance is added to. Access at those offices is by appointment: to find out which benefits you may qualify for, KOVS directs you to "schedule an appointment with your local Veteran Service Representative." KOVS says all services are provided for no charge between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and claims counseling, development, and processing can also be done from home by video conference or telephone. Contact your local VSR or call the KOVS main line at (785) 296-3976.

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

Will You Owe Tax on Caregiver Pay?

When a caregiver wage is what a family lives on, the question of how much the IRS and the state will take is not an afterthought. Here is what to know before you file.

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, which treats qualified Medicaid waiver payments as difficulty-of-care payments excludable under Internal Revenue Code section 131. The exclusion applies only when the caregiver and care recipient share the same home as the caregiver's primary residence. Because Kansas's co-resident rules limit which household members can be paid, fewer arrangements may qualify, though 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, with rates of 5.2 percent and 5.58 percent for 2026. 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 VA has stated the PCAFC monthly stipend is a nontaxable benefit and it 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.

Where to Get Help in Kansas

Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Your front door to NFCSP respite, KanCare waiver information, and caregiver training through Kansas's 11 Area Agencies on Aging. 1-855-200-2372 www.kdads.ks.gov
2-1-1 Kansas Free line to the broader network of local social services, benefits, and caregiver resources. 211 www.211.org
VA Caregiver Support Line Reaches a VA Caregiver Support Coordinator for the PCAFC stipend and other veteran caregiver benefits. 1-855-260-3274 www.caregiver.va.gov
Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS) Trained and accredited Veteran Service Representatives help veterans and survivors file VA claims, including non-service-connected pension benefits, at no charge, in field offices statewide by appointment or remotely by video or phone. (785) 296-3976 www.kovs.ks.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Kansas?

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.,

Can I be paid if I live with the person I care for?

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.

Which waivers cover paid caregiving in Kansas?

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.

Is there free respite in Kansas without Medicaid?

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

How do I reach my Area Agency on Aging in Kansas?

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

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 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. CaregiverRespite Care in KansasRespite care in Kansas can be free through NFCSP grants with no income test, and its Medicaid waivers can pay a family member. Every funded option for 2026. 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 Aid and Attendance in KansasVA Aid and Attendance in Kansas for 2026: who qualifies, monthly rates up to $2,874, how to apply, and free help from the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. 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 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.

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Brevy Care Team

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