How much do family caregivers get paid in Utah?
Around $2,372/month — and here is what moves that number.
Your pay is not a posted wage. It comes out of a care budget that Utah sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers in the same town can be paid differently.
What Utah pays family caregivers
$2,372/month
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Utah Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
participant-directed with a financial management services agency handling payroll (New Choices Waiver); DSPD caregiver compensation runs through the person's DSPD services and requires caregiver training
- Spouse can be paid?
- Yes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Waitlists can be long — apply early.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Utah it runs through DSPD Caregiver Compensation, New Choices Waiver, Aging Waiver, administered by Utah Dept. of Health & Human Services — Division of Integrated Healthcare (Medicaid, 800-662-9651) and Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD, 1-844-275-3773)
433,100 people in Utah — 12% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 29 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 Utah program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Utah 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 Utah: For disability waivers call DSPD intake at 1-844-275-3773 or apply online at dspd.utah.gov; for the New Choices Waiver call Utah Medicaid at 800-662-9651 (option 6) after meeting facility-residency requirements.
Utah pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Utah?
Figures reported for Utah land around $2,372/month, 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 Utah program they are on, and who administers the payroll. participant-directed with a financial management services agency handling payroll (New Choices Waiver); DSPD caregiver compensation runs through the person's DSPD services and requires caregiver training
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 Utah?
yes/limited — spouses payable under DSPD Caregiver Compensation (SB 63, CMS-approved Jan 2022) for extraordinary care; New Choices Waiver allows spouses 'in some cases'; EPAS and state-plan personal care exclude spouses There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Utah.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Utah?
yes — parents, step-parents, and legal guardians can be paid under DSPD Caregiver Compensation (since 2020) after completing required training; not under state-plan personal care
Is there a waitlist in Utah?
New Choices Waiver is not an entitlement (~2,500 slots, waitlist possible); DSPD services are known for a multi-year waiting list
How do I apply in Utah?
For disability waivers call DSPD intake at 1-844-275-3773 or apply online at dspd.utah.gov; for the New Choices Waiver call Utah Medicaid at 800-662-9651 (option 6) after meeting facility-residency requirements.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Utah →
Sources: dspd.utah.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Utah caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Utah — 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.