How Much Do Family Caregivers Get Paid in Michigan?
Through Michigan's Medicaid Home Help program, family members can be paid to care for a loved one at home. At Genesis Care Network, family caregivers earn $17.33 an hour, plus a $300 sign-on bonus. Here's how the pay works, how your hours are set, and what to expect before your first paycheck.
Genesis Caregiver Pay at a Glance
Hourly rate: $17.33 an hour
Sign-on bonus: $300
Paid CNA training: if your loved one has complex medical needs
Pay schedule: every two weeks, by direct deposit or debit card
First paycheck: about a month after you start, when the state's payments begin
Cost to your family: none. Home Help is paid for by Michigan Medicaid.
Start your caregiver application
This first step takes about 2 minutes: just your contact information. We'll call you within 1 business day to confirm you qualify and help you complete the full application. Questions? Call (517) 798-6039.
How Does That Compare to Enrolling on Your Own?
Caregivers who enroll directly with the state as individual providers are paid Michigan's Home Help individual caregiver rate, which is $17.13 an hour as of January 1, 2026. That rate is made up of Michigan's minimum wage plus a direct care worker wage increase.
Working through Genesis, you earn $17.33 an hour, plus the sign-on bonus, and we handle the enrollment paperwork, training, compliance and payroll for you.
How Many Hours Will I Be Paid For?
Your paid hours are based on your loved one's needs, not a fixed schedule. An adult services worker from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) visits your loved one, reviews which daily tasks they need help with, such as bathing, dressing, meals, medications or housework, and approves a set number of care hours. You're paid for the approved hours you work.
If your loved one's needs change, their hours can be reassessed. We can help you understand the process.
What Could That Look Like? An Example
If your loved one is approved for 20 hours of care a week, that's about $347 a week before taxes at $17.33 an hour, or roughly $1,500 a month. Every family's approved hours are different, so your amount may be higher or lower. This is an example, not a guarantee.
Do You Qualify?
You may qualify if you can say yes to these:
My loved one has full Michigan Medicaid (or I'd like help understanding how to apply)
They need hands-on help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, meals or medications
They live in Michigan, in their own home or a family home (not a nursing home)
I'm 18 or older and can pass a background check
I'm not their spouse, and they're not my child under 18
Not sure about one? Apply anyway. We'll help you figure it out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Caregiver Pay
Why does the first paycheck take about a month?
Home Help payments come from the state on a set schedule. Your first check arrives about a month after you start; after that, you're paid every two weeks.
Can I get paid for care I gave before I enrolled?
No. Pay starts once you're enrolled and your loved one's care hours are approved. That's why it helps to apply as early as you can.
Am I an employee?
Yes. When you work through Genesis, you're a paid caregiver on our team, and we handle payroll. For questions about taxes on your pay, talk with a tax professional about your situation.
How do I get the $300 sign-on bonus?
New caregivers who join Genesis receive the sign-on bonus. Ask us for the details when we call you back.
Do you pay caregivers in rural areas the same rate?
Yes. Genesis caregivers earn the same rate anywhere in Michigan. See Home Help in rural Michigan.
Ready to Get Paid for the Care You Already Give?
Start your caregiver application
This first step takes about 2 minutes: just your contact information. We'll call you within 1 business day to confirm you qualify and help you complete the full application. Questions? Call (517) 798-6039.
Learn more: how Home Help works · Ingham County · Shiawassee County · Roscommon County