How Connecticut Families Can Get Paid to Care for an Aging Parent — And Why Most Never Do
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May 9, 2025
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8 min read
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Medicaid & Caregiver Pay
The short answer: Connecticut has a state-funded program that pays family members — including adult children, siblings, and spouses — to provide home care for a loved one who qualifies for Medicaid. Most families who qualify have never heard of it. This article explains exactly how it works, who qualifies, and how to apply.
Every week, I speak with families who are exhausted. A daughter who quit her job to care for her mother. A son who drives two hours round-trip three times a week to help his father bathe and get to appointments. A spouse who has not slept through the night in months.
When I tell them that Connecticut has a program that would have been paying them — sometimes more than $2,000 a month — for the care they have already been providing, the reaction is almost always the same: disbelief, followed by relief, followed by frustration that no one ever told them.
This article is for every family in that situation. I am going to explain exactly what the program is, who qualifies, what it pays, and how to get enrolled — without spending a single dollar out of pocket.
What Is Connecticut’s AFL Program?
The program most families qualify for is called the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver or, more commonly for seniors and adults with disabilities, the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver — both administered under Connecticut’s Medicaid system through the Department of Social Services (DSS).
The broader category these fall under is often called Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. The specific program that allows a family member to be paid as a caregiver is sometimes referred to as the AFL (Adult Family Living) program.
Here is the core concept: instead of the state paying a professional home care agency to send an aide to your home, the state pays you — the family member who is already providing that care — to do it. The care recipient must be on Medicaid and meet certain functional criteria, but the caregiver can be a spouse, adult child, sibling, or other family member.
Key point: The AFL program does not create new care — it compensates family members for care they are already providing. If your loved one is on Medicaid and needs help with daily activities, there is a strong chance you qualify.
Who Qualifies?
The Care Recipient Must:
- Be a Connecticut resident aged 18 or older
- Be enrolled in Connecticut Medicaid (HUSKY Health)
- Require assistance with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — such as bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, or toileting
- Prefer to remain at home rather than enter a nursing facility
- Have a physician’s order or clinical assessment supporting the need for home care
The Family Caregiver Must:
- Be a family member (spouse, adult child, sibling, parent, or other relative) or a trusted individual chosen by the care recipient
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be willing to complete a brief caregiver training and background check
- Not be the legal guardian of the care recipient in certain program tracks
- Provide a minimum number of care hours per week (typically 20+ hours)
How Much Does It Pay?
Compensation varies based on the number of care hours authorized and the specific program track. Based on our clients’ experience, here is a general range:
| Care Hours Per Week | Estimated Monthly Pay | Annual Income |
|---|
| 20–30 hours/week | $1,200 – $1,800/month | $14,400 – $21,600/year |
| 30–40 hours/week | $1,800 – $2,500/month | $21,600 – $30,000/year |
| 40+ hours/week | $2,500 – $3,200+/month | $30,000 – $38,400+/year |
One of our clients, Florence, was providing 40+ hours of care per week for her mother — bathing, cooking, medications, and appointments. She had no idea she could be paid. After we enrolled her, she began receiving $2,350 per month. Her first paycheck arrived within two weeks of approval.
Why Do So Few Families Know About This?
This is the question I am asked most often, and the answer is both simple and frustrating: the system is not designed to find you — you have to find it.
Connecticut’s Medicaid system is complex, fragmented, and navigated primarily by professionals who work within it daily. Most families interact with it only during a crisis — a hospitalization, a fall, a sudden decline. By that point, they are overwhelmed and focused on immediate care, not benefit optimization.
Additionally, the programs have different names depending on the population they serve, the administering agency, and the year they were created. A family searching online for “get paid to care for parent Connecticut” may find outdated information, confusing government websites, or nothing at all.
This is precisely why The Cassagnol Agency exists. We know the programs, the eligibility criteria, the application process, and the people inside the system who move things forward. We do not just hand you a pamphlet — we walk with you through every step.
The 5-Step Enrollment Process
- Eligibility screening: We review the care recipient’s Medicaid status, functional needs, and living situation to confirm program eligibility — usually within 24 hours of your first call.
- RN assessment: A registered nurse conducts a comprehensive in-home or telehealth assessment to document care needs and support the application.
- Application submission: We prepare and submit all required documentation to the Connecticut Department of Social Services on your behalf.
- Caregiver onboarding: The family caregiver completes a brief training and background check. We coordinate everything.
- First paycheck: Once approved, the caregiver is added to the payroll system and begins receiving biweekly payments directly deposited into their bank account.
From first call to first paycheck, our average timeline is 14 days. There is no out-of-pocket cost to the family for our navigation services.
Common Questions
Does the care recipient have to be elderly?
No. The programs serve adults of all ages with qualifying disabilities or functional limitations, not just seniors. If your loved one is 18 or older, on Medicaid, and needs help with daily activities, they may qualify regardless of age.
Can a spouse be paid to care for their partner?
Yes, in most program tracks. Spousal caregivers are eligible in Connecticut’s AFL and PCA programs, though the specific authorization process may differ slightly.
What if my loved one is not currently on Medicaid?
We can help with that too. Many families do not realize their loved one qualifies for Medicaid — particularly seniors with limited income and assets. We conduct a full benefits eligibility review as part of our initial consultation.
Will this affect my loved one’s other benefits?
Generally no. Medicaid home care programs are designed to work alongside Medicare and other benefits. We review the full picture to ensure enrollment in one program does not inadvertently affect another.
Take the First Step Today
If you are caring for a family member in Connecticut — or if you know someone who is — the most important thing you can do right now is find out whether they qualify. The process takes less than 15 minutes, and it costs nothing.
At The Cassagnol Agency, we offer a free eligibility consultation with no obligation. We will tell you honestly whether you qualify, what the process looks like, and what you can expect to receive. If we cannot help you, we will point you toward someone who can.
Find Out If You Qualify — Free Consultation
Speak with a registered nurse who will review your situation and tell you exactly what programs are available to your family — at no cost.
Book Your Free Consultation
EC
Ernscie Cassagnol, RN, BS
Founder & CEO — The Cassagnol Agency | WOSB & MWBE Certified
Ernscie is a registered nurse with over 10 years of clinical and Medicare/Medicaid expertise. She founded The Cassagnol Agency to bridge the gap between Connecticut families and the programs designed to help them — making the system simple, dignified, and accessible for every family regardless of income or background.
