How much do family caregivers get paid in Delaware?
Around $13–$21/hr — and here is what moves that number.
Your pay is not a posted wage. It comes out of a care budget that Delaware sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers in the same town can be paid differently.
What Delaware pays family caregivers
$13–$21/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Delaware Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
self-directed through the member's managed care organization; a financial management services agency handles payroll/taxes/background checks
- Spouse can be paid?
- Yes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- No waitlist.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Delaware it runs through DSHP-Plus self-directed care, administered by Delaware Health & Social Services, Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA); Central Intake 1-866-940-8963, Customer Relations 1-866-843-7212
229,000 people in Delaware — 22% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 3 counties. The programs on this page exist because caring for them at home costs the state far less than a nursing home does.
From first call to first paycheck
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions tell you which Delaware program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Delaware confirms your relative qualifies and how much help they need. The hours in that assessment become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enrol and hire
Your relative enrols, then names you as their caregiver. Background check, paperwork, done.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
How to start in Delaware: Call the DMMA Central Intake Unit at 866-940-8963 to request an application; eligibility determination (financial + nursing-facility level of care) can take up to 3 months.
Delaware pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Delaware?
Figures reported for Delaware land around $13–$21/hr, but that is a range, not a promise. Your rate is set inside your relative's care plan and budget. We tell you your real number before you enroll.
What decides my exact hourly rate?
Three things: how much help your relative is assessed as needing, which Delaware program they are on, and who administers the payroll. self-directed through the member's managed care organization; a financial management services agency handles payroll/taxes/background checks
How many hours a week can I be paid for?
Hours come from the care assessment, not from how many you actually work. That is the single biggest thing families get wrong — an honest assessment is worth more than any negotiation later. We help you prepare for it.
Is family caregiver pay taxable?
Usually yes — it is normally treated as wages, with taxes withheld. One exception is worth asking about: the IRS difficulty-of-care rule can make some payments tax-free when the caregiver lives with the person receiving care.
Can I be paid to care for my spouse in Delaware?
yes — spouses and other relatives can be hired under DSHP-Plus self-directed attendant care (the separate state-funded Personal Attendant Services program excludes spouses) There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Delaware.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Delaware?
yes — parents/guardians can be paid for personal care up to 40 hrs/week under the demonstration waiver; another adult must sign timesheets/paperwork
Is there a waitlist in Delaware?
no waitlist — DSHP-Plus is an entitlement (eligibility = enrollment)
How do I apply in Delaware?
Call the DMMA Central Intake Unit at 866-940-8963 to request an application; eligibility determination (financial + nursing-facility level of care) can take up to 3 months.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Delaware →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · kidswaivers.org · payingforseniorcare.com · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Delaware caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Delaware — pick yours for the local picture.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.