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Connecticut · CT

How to get paid to care for a family member in Connecticut

In Connecticut, the main path is Community First Choice (CFC).1 Medicaid coverage, institutional level of care, and able to self-direct care (or rely on someone who can).1 No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.1

  • Official sources
  • Last verified Oct 20, 2026
  • Independent site, not a government agency
A mother and her adult daughter look at a phone together

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Reviewed against official sources Last verified 7 official sources cited

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Key facts

Program
Community First Choice (CFC)1
Who can be paid
Beneficiaries may employ relatives and friends. Spouses and legal guardians are excluded from pay. Note: in the CT Home Care Program for Elders, family members are not paid for PCA services except in very rare cases.1
Spouse
No1
Pay
No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.1
Key facts: Connecticut. Program: Community First Choice (CFC). Spouse: No. Pay: No single published rate.
Source: wp.cga.ct.gov, Last verified Oct 20, 2026

Programs in Connecticut

Connecticut programs that may pay a family caregiver
ProgramTypeEligibility summarySource
Community First Choice (CFC)HCBS self-directedMedicaid coverage, institutional level of care, and able to self-direct care (or rely on someone who can).Official page1
VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family CaregiversVAFor eligible Veterans with a 70% or higher VA disability rating. See VA stipend.va.gov4

Is there IHSS or CDPAP in Connecticut?

No. IHSS is California's In-Home Supportive Services program6 and CDPAP is New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program7. Connecticut does not use those names. The comparable path on the Connecticut official source is Community First Choice (CFC).1

How to apply

  1. Apply for CFC through the DSS online portal or by dialing 2-1-1.1
  2. DSS reviews the application and refers your loved one to an access agency for assessment.1
  3. Choose the self-directed option and enroll your worker with the payroll (financial management) agency.1
  4. The worker completes background checks and any required training before starting.1
Steps to apply: 1. Apply for CFC through the DSS online portal or by dialing 2-1-1. 2. DSS reviews the application and refers your loved one to an access agency for assessment. 3. Choose the self-directed option and enroll your worker with the payroll (financial management) agency. 4. The worker completes background checks and any required training before starting.
Source: wp.cga.ct.gov, Last verified Oct 20, 2026

Your Connecticut application checklist

Use this list to track the official steps. It does not decide eligibility. Only the agency decides who qualifies. Applying through the state is free.

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Want a step by step plan? See the Application Plan Kit

Frequently asked questions

Can a family member get paid to be a caregiver in Connecticut?

Possibly, if the person receiving care qualifies. Community First Choice (CFC): Beneficiaries may employ relatives and friends. Spouses and legal guardians are excluded from pay. Note: in the CT Home Care Program for Elders, family members are not paid for PCA services except in very rare cases.

How much does Connecticut pay family caregivers?

No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.

Can a spouse be paid in Connecticut?

What the official source says: No. Confirm with the program before you rely on it.

Who decides if we qualify?

Only the state agency or health plan decides. This site cannot approve anyone or promise eligibility.

Sources

  1. https://wp.cga.ct.gov/apa/wp-content/cgacustom/reports/performance/PERFORMANCE_Department%20of%20Social%20Services-Community%20First%20Choice_20220601.pdfOfficial
  2. https://portal.ct.gov/dss/health-and-home-care/connecticut-home-care-program-for-elders/connecticut-home-care-program-for-elders-chcpeOfficial
  3. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/rpt/2016-R-0249.htmOfficial
  4. VA PCAFC: https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/health-and-disability/comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers/Official
  5. USA.gov: https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiverOfficial
  6. California CDSS, IHSS: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/in-home-supportive-servicesOfficial
  7. New York DOH, CDPAP: https://health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/longterm/cdpap/Official

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