Get paid to care for your family member in Texas
You're already doing the work. Texas has programs that can pay you for it.
Key facts
- Program
- Community First Choice + STAR+PLUS Consumer Directed Services
- Typical pay
- hourly wages through the CDS option (rates vary; often ~$10–$15/hour)
- Spouses?
- Some family members qualify; rules differ by program — spouses face restrictions in several Texas programs.
- Live-in required?
- Not for this program (rules vary by program).
How it works
Texas pays family caregivers primarily through the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option inside Community First Choice and STAR+PLUS managed-care programs. The person receiving care becomes the employer and can hire relatives for authorized attendant hours, with a fiscal agent running payroll. Texas rates are lower than coastal states, but authorized hours can be substantial.
Steps to get started
- Confirm Texas Medicaid and program enrollment (CFC or a STAR+PLUS plan).
- Choose the Consumer Directed Services option.
- Hire the family caregiver as attendant through the fiscal agent.
- Log hours through the required EVV system.
We'll find the money your family qualifies for
cares-ai is building a Caregiver Money companion: answer a few questions, see every program you may qualify for (Medicaid, VA, tax credits), and keep the care log these programs require — in one place. Join the waitlist and we'll email you as soon as the Texas eligibility checker opens.
Common questions
Can spouses be paid caregivers in Texas?
Some family members qualify; rules differ by program — spouses face restrictions in several Texas programs.
How much does it pay?
Community First Choice + STAR+PLUS Consumer Directed Services pays hourly wages through the CDS option (rates vary; often ~$10–$15/hour). Exact amounts depend on assessed care level and current program rates — treat published figures as estimates until confirmed in writing.
Do I have to live with the person I care for?
Not necessarily for this program, though some related programs do require it. Each program's rules differ.
What documentation is required?
Nearly every caregiver-pay program requires ongoing documentation — daily care notes, timesheets or electronic visit verification, and periodic assessments. Missing or sloppy records are the #1 reason payments get delayed or clawed back. (Keeping this record effortless is exactly what cares-ai is building.)