How much do family caregivers get paid in Rhode Island?
Around $15/hr — and here is what moves that number.
Your pay is not a posted wage. It comes out of a care budget that Rhode Island sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers in the same town can be paid differently.
What Rhode Island pays family caregivers
$15/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Rhode Island Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
self-directed; a state-contracted service advisement agency + fiscal intermediary handle payroll and taxes (Personal Choice via AccessPointRI / Seven Hills RI / Tri-County)
- Spouse can be paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- Some programs have no waitlist.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Rhode Island it runs through Personal Choice Program, Independent Provider Program, administered by RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) / DHS — DHS Call Center 855-697-4347; The Point (ADRC) 401-462-4444
218,600 people in Rhode Island — 20% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 5 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 Rhode Island program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island: Apply for Medicaid LTSS through RI DHS (call 855-697-4347 or The Point at 401-462-4444), then choose the Personal Choice self-directed option through one of the three partner agencies.
Rhode Island pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Rhode Island?
Figures reported for Rhode Island land around $15/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 Rhode Island program they are on, and who administers the payroll. self-directed; a state-contracted service advisement agency + fiscal intermediary handle payroll and taxes (Personal Choice via AccessPointRI / Seven Hills RI / Tri-County)
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 Rhode Island?
no — spouses are prohibited from being hired in both Personal Choice and the IP Program (adult children and other relatives allowed) There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Rhode Island.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Rhode Island?
no — programs serve the adult LTSS population; parent-of-minor payment not addressed
Is there a waitlist in Rhode Island?
not necessarily an entitlement — slots may be limited and waiting lists may develop (no active waitlist confirmed)
How do I apply in Rhode Island?
Apply for Medicaid LTSS through RI DHS (call 855-697-4347 or The Point at 401-462-4444), then choose the Personal Choice self-directed option through one of the three partner agencies.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Rhode Island →
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · eohhs.ri.gov · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Rhode Island caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Rhode Island — 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.