South Carolina's Community Choices Waiver added a self-directed attendant care option in July 2025 that can pay a family member.
If you are caring for an aging parent, a spouse, or an adult child with a disability in South Carolina, 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
- South Carolina Caregiver Programs at a Glance
- Programs That Pay Family Caregivers
- Respite Care Programs
- Support, Training, and Area Agencies
- VA Caregiver Benefits in South Carolina
- Taxes for South Carolina Caregivers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
South Carolina Caregiver Programs at a Glance
| Program | What It Offers | Pay a spouse? | Cost to You |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Choices Waiver self-directed Attendant Care | Pays a family caregiver to provide in-home personal care | Confirm | Free (paid by Medicaid) |
| NFCSP respite grants | Free in-home respite, adult day vouchers, training, counseling | N/A | Free |
| VA PCAFC | Monthly tax-free stipend; pays spouses | Yes | Free (VA benefit) |
| VA Aid and Attendance | Pension up to $2,424/mo to veteran; caregiver paid from it | Pension to veteran | Free to apply (VSO help) |
Programs That Pay Family Caregivers
South Carolina's Community Choices (CC) Waiver, administered by SCDHHS, serves frail elderly adults (65+) and adults 18-64 with physical disabilities at a nursing-facility level of care. Effective July 1, 2025, the CC waiver added a self-directed Attendant Care option in which the participant hires and directs their own caregiver, which may include a family member. Confirm the specific family-member and spousal rules with SCDHHS at (888) 549-0820.
For the full guide to who can be paid and how, see: How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in South Carolina.
Respite Care Programs
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through South Carolina's Area Agencies on Aging. Services include in-home respite, adult day vouchers, caregiver training, and counseling, with no income test for respite services. Call 1-800-868-9095 (Lt. Governor's Office on Aging) to reach your regional agency, or dial 211.
State Medicaid programs and waivers can also authorize respite within the care plan. For the full respite guide, see: Respite Care in South Carolina.
Support, Training, and Area Agencies
South Carolina's Area Agencies on Aging 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 1-800-868-9095 (Lt. Governor's Office on Aging) to reach your regional agency, or dial 211 for the broader social-services network. These calls are free and carry no obligation. A counselor will identify what is available in your area and help you start an application.
VA Caregiver Benefits in South Carolina
Veterans enrolled in VA health care in South Carolina 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.
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 South Carolina state veterans agency and county or town Veterans Service Officers help file at no cost.
VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274
Taxes for South Carolina 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. This applies to many South Carolina self-directed caregiving arrangements. Talk to a tax preparer familiar with the rule before filing.
South Carolina State Income Tax
State income tax treatment of caregiver wages varies. Confirm the current rate and how it applies to Medicaid waiver payments with the South Carolina state revenue department or 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 South Carolina caregiver program fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized comparison based on your loved one's Medicaid enrollment, veteran status, and whether you are a spouse or non-spouse caregiver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Possibly, under the Community Choices Waiver self-directed Attendant Care option that took effect July 1, 2025. The specific rules about which relatives, and whether a spouse, can be hired should be confirmed with SCDHHS at (888) 549-0820.
Yes. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides free respite through South Carolina's Area Agencies on Aging with no income test. Call 1-800-868-9095 (Lt. Governor's Office on Aging) or dial 211.
The PCAFC stipend (for veterans with a 70%+ service-connected disability rating, tax-free, pays spouses) and the Aid and Attendance pension (for wartime veterans and surviving spouses under the net-worth limit). Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Call 1-800-868-9095 (Lt. Governor's Office on Aging) to reach your regional agency, or dial 211. They handle NFCSP respite grants, adult day referrals, and caregiver training.
Learn More
- Medicaid Self-Direction and Consumer-Directed Services
- The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP): A Complete Guide
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in South Carolina
- Respite Care in South Carolina
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Benefits for Seniors in South Carolina
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating South Carolina 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.