Utah pays family members to provide care through EPAS self-direction and its Medicaid HCBS waivers. Add respite grants and VA benefits, and most families have real options.

If you are caring for an aging parent, a spouse, or an adult child with a disability in Utah, 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

Utah Caregiver Programs at a Glance

Program What It Offers Who Qualifies Cost to You
EPAS self-direction Working adult hires and directs their own assistant (not spouse) Employed Medicaid adults with disabilities Free (paid by Medicaid)
HCBS waivers (Aging, PD, New Choices) In-home personal care and respite Medicaid members at nursing-facility level of care 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

EPAS is a Utah Medicaid self-directed service for people with disabilities who are employed and need personal assistance to remain working. The participant acts as the employer and selects, hires, and directs their own personal assistant, with payroll handled through the EPAS payroll system.

The spouse rule: an EPAS personal assistant may not be the participant's legal guardian, which includes a parent of a minor child or a spouse. Adult children (the participant must be at least 18 to hire a parent), siblings, other relatives, and friends age 16 or older may be hired, provided they have a valid driver's license and automobile insurance. EPAS cannot be combined with a 1915(c) HCBS waiver.

HCBS Waivers (Aging, Physical Disabilities, New Choices)

For people who are not employed or need a broader package of services, Utah's Medicaid HCBS waivers fund in-home personal care: the Aging Waiver (age 65+, institutional level of care), the Physical Disabilities Waiver (personal care assistance), and the New Choices Waiver (transition from institutional settings). Whether a specific family member can be the paid worker depends on the waiver's self-direction option; confirm with the DHHS case manager.

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

Respite Care Programs

Medicaid Respite (HCBS Waivers)

The Aging Waiver, Physical Disabilities Waiver, and New Choices Waiver can authorize respite within the care plan. Ask your DHHS case manager to include respite hours.

NFCSP Grants Through Utah's Area Agencies on Aging

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through the Utah Department of Human Services Aging and Adult Services to 12 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 1-877-424-4640.

For the full respite guide: Respite Care in Utah.

Support, Training, and Area Agencies

Utah's 12 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 1-877-424-4640 (Utah Aging and Adult Services) 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 EPAS or an HCBS waiver, the EPAS payroll system or the DHHS case manager is your key contact for adjusting the service plan, including adding respite or arranging a paid family assistant.

VA Caregiver Benefits in Utah

Veterans enrolled in VA health care in Utah 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 EPAS excludes spouses, the PCAFC stipend and Veteran-Directed Care are often the routes through which a Utah spouse can be paid to provide care.

Utah VA facilities: The George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City is the main VA medical center, with community-based outpatient clinics across the state.

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 Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs and county Veterans Service Officers help file at no cost.

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

Taxes for Utah 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 may apply to some Utah EPAS arrangements where the assistant lives with the participant. Talk to a tax preparer familiar with the rule before filing.

Utah State Income Tax

Utah levies a flat individual income tax of approximately 4.5%. Because Utah starts from federal adjusted gross income, the IRS Notice 2014-7 exclusion (when it applies) generally flows through to the Utah return. Confirm the current rate with the Utah State Tax Commission.

VA PCAFC Stipend

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

Not sure which Utah caregiver program fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized comparison based on your loved one's employment status, Medicaid enrollment, and veteran status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not through EPAS, which excludes a spouse (as a legal guardian) from being the paid personal assistant. If your spouse is a veteran enrolled in VA care, the PCAFC stipend and Veteran-Directed Care can pay a spouse. A Utah HCBS waiver may have different self-direction rules; confirm with the DHHS case manager.

An adult child (the participant must be at least 18 to hire a parent), sibling, other relative, or friend age 16 or older with a valid driver's license and automobile insurance. A spouse or a parent serving as legal guardian cannot be hired.

EPAS is a self-directed service for working adults with disabilities who need personal assistance to stay employed. The HCBS waivers (Aging, Physical Disabilities, New Choices) serve a broader population needing in-home long-term care. EPAS cannot be combined with a 1915(c) waiver.

Yes. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides free respite through Utah's 12 Area Agencies on Aging with no income test. Call 1-877-424-4640.

Call 1-877-424-4640 (Utah Aging and Adult Services) to reach your regional AAA, or dial 211. Utah has 12 AAAs serving every county; they handle NFCSP respite grants, adult day referrals, and caregiver training.

Learn More

Find personalized help navigating Utah 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.