The Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) pays family caregivers in Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, and all Illinois counties up to $20/hr — significant annual income. No waiver waitlist. Spouses now eligible. Free enrollment through Paid.care.
NEW April 2026: Illinois spouses can now be paid as CCP caregivers!
The Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) is a Medicaid-funded program administered by the Illinois Department on Aging that pays family members to care for elderly or disabled loved ones at home.
Unlike Indiana's Pathways waiver (1–2 year waitlist), CCP has no waitlist. If your loved one has Illinois Medicaid and meets functional eligibility, enrollment moves directly to assessment. Most families receive their first paycheck within 30–60 days.
Pay is up to $20/hr and up to $20/hr, with authorized hours per week — up to based on authorized hours for full-time caregivers.
The state pays CCP agencies like Paid.care a rate per hour. The agency pays the family caregiver.
Illinois CCP requires no HCBS waiver — if your loved one has Medicaid and qualifies, enrollment starts immediately.
As of April 2026, spouses are explicitly eligible as paid CCP caregivers — a landmark change for Illinois families.
Most CCP agencies issue W-2. Under IRS Notice 2014-7, live-in caregivers may exclude Medicaid waiver income from federal gross income.
Paid.care handles all paperwork, CCU coordination, and training at no cost to families.
Your pay is determined by authorized hours per week. Use the calculator to estimate your earnings.
Five steps from inquiry to first paycheck — most families complete the process in 30–60 days.
To qualify for the Illinois Community Care Program, your loved one must score at least 29 points on the Determination of Need (DON) assessment — a functional evaluation conducted by your local Care Coordination Unit (CCU).
The DON evaluates difficulty with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility — plus Instrumental ADLs like meal preparation and medication management. Higher scores mean more authorized care hours and more pay for the family caregiver.
CCP is administered through a Section 1915(c) HCBS Waiver — the federal framework that lets Illinois fund home care instead of nursing homes through Medicaid.
The Determination of Need assessment must score at least 29 for CCP eligibility
Your local CCU conducts the assessment and authorizes your weekly care hours
CCP keeps your loved one home — at a fraction of the $8,000+/month nursing home cost
Illinois updated CCP rules to allow spouses as paid caregivers for the first time
CCP caregivers are W-2 employees, not contractors — building Social Security work history
The Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) is a Medicaid-funded program administered by the Illinois Department on Aging that allows family members to be paid as caregivers for elderly or disabled loved ones. CCP pays up to up to $20/hr with no waiver waitlist required.
Illinois CCP pays up to $20 per hour for standard authorized hours (up to 40/week) and up to $20/hr (additional authorized hours). At maximum authorized hours, a family caregiver can earn approximately per week (at maximum OT) or based on authorized hours.
Yes — as of April 2026! Spouses are now explicitly eligible as paid CCP caregivers in Illinois. This is a landmark change. If your spouse has Illinois Medicaid and needs assistance with daily activities, you can now be paid at the standard CCP rate ($20/hr, up to CCU-authorized hrs/week).
No. Unlike Indiana's Pathways Waiver (which has a 1–2 year waitlist), Illinois CCP does not require a waiver application. If the care recipient has Illinois Medicaid and meets functional eligibility, enrollment moves directly to an assessment by your county CCU. Most families start receiving pay within 30–60 days.
The care recipient's non-exempt assets must be under $17,500. Exempt assets (that don't count) include the primary home, one vehicle up to $4,500, personal belongings, and prepaid burial expenses. Cash, bank accounts, and investments above these exemptions count against the limit.
Free enrollment. Paid.care handles every step — Medicaid verification, CCU coordination, training, and your first paycheck.
The state doesn't pay family caregivers directly. Here's how the money flows from Illinois Medicaid to your paycheck.
Your loved one must have Illinois Medicaid with non-exempt assets under $17,500. If not enrolled, apply through IL DHS. Paid.care can help check eligibility for free.
Call (312) 241-1839 or submit our enrollment form. A coordinator will conduct a free pre-screening and connect you with your county Community Care Unit (CCU).
A case manager from your local CCU visits the home and conducts a functional needs assessment. This determines how many hours per week will be authorized. More ADL needs = more hours.
You'll complete a background check and basic orientation training through Paid.care (typically 4–6 hours). This covers personal care, safety, and documentation requirements.
Once approved, you submit time records (via app or timesheets) and receive payment biweekly. $20/hr for standard hours, up to $20/hr for authorized overtime (hours 41–56).
Illinois Medicaid is administered through 6 MCOs. All participate in CCP. Your MCO depends on your enrollment — check your Medicaid card or call 1-877-912-8880.
Paid.care handles the entire Illinois CCP enrollment process at no cost to families.
Estimate your earnings as an Illinois Community Care Program caregiver. Rates: up to $20/hr (hours 41–56).
Adjust sliders to see your estimated earnings. Overtime kicks in above 40 hours/week at up to $20/hr.
| Hours/Week | Standard (×$20) | OT (×$30) | Weekly Total | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hrs | $200 | $0 | $200 | $10,400 |
| 20 hrs | $400 | $0 | $400 | $20,800 |
| 30 hrs | $600 | $0 | $600 | $31,200 |
| 40 hrs | $800 | $0 | $800 | $41,600 |
| 48 hrs | $800 | $240 | $1,040 | based on authorized hours |
| CCU-authorized hours | $800 | $480 | $1,280 | $66,560 |
Rates as of 2025. Actual pay depends on your county CCU's authorization. Annual figures assume 52 weeks. Source: Illinois Department on Aging.
Many Illinois CCP caregivers receive W-2 income. Under IRS Notice 2014-7, qualifying live-in family caregivers receiving Medicaid waiver payments may exclude this income from federal gross income — potentially reducing your tax bill to $0 on CCP earnings. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Illinois CCP pays up to $20 per hour for standard authorized hours (up to 40/week) and up to $20/hr (additional authorized hours). At maximum authorized hours, a family caregiver can earn approximately per week (at maximum OT) or based on authorized hours.
Yes — as of April 2026! Spouses are now explicitly eligible as paid CCP caregivers in Illinois. This is a landmark change. If your spouse has Illinois Medicaid and needs assistance with daily activities, you can now be paid at the standard CCP rate ($20/hr, up to CCU-authorized hrs/week).
No. Unlike Indiana's Pathways Waiver (which has a 1–2 year waitlist), Illinois CCP does not require a waiver application. If the care recipient has Illinois Medicaid and meets functional eligibility, enrollment moves directly to an assessment by your county CCU. Most families start receiving pay within 30–60 days.
The care recipient's non-exempt assets must be under $17,500. Exempt assets (that don't count) include the primary home, one vehicle up to $4,500, personal belongings, and prepaid burial expenses. Cash, bank accounts, and investments above these exemptions count against the limit.
20 in-depth articles on the Community Care Program, Illinois Medicaid caregiver pay, eligibility, enrollment, and more.
Everything you need to know about the Community Care Program in Illinois.
The Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) is a Medicaid-funded program administered by the Illinois Department on Aging that allows family members to be paid as caregivers for elderly or disabled loved ones. CCP pays up to up to $20/hr with no waiver waitlist required.
Illinois CCP pays up to $20 per hour for standard authorized hours (up to 40/week) and up to $20/hr (additional authorized hours). At maximum authorized hours, a family caregiver can earn approximately per week (at maximum OT) or based on authorized hours.
Yes — as of April 2026! Spouses are now explicitly eligible as paid CCP caregivers in Illinois. This is a landmark change. If your spouse has Illinois Medicaid and needs assistance with daily activities, you can now be paid at the standard CCP rate ($20/hr, up to CCU-authorized hrs/week).
No. Unlike Indiana's Pathways Waiver (which has a 1–2 year waitlist), Illinois CCP does not require a waiver application. If the care recipient has Illinois Medicaid and meets functional eligibility, enrollment moves directly to an assessment by your county CCU. Most families start receiving pay within 30–60 days.
The care recipient's non-exempt assets must be under $17,500. Exempt assets (that don't count) include the primary home, one vehicle up to $4,500, personal belongings, and prepaid burial expenses. Cash, bank accounts, and investments above these exemptions count against the limit.
Beyond spouses (newly eligible April 2026), CCP allows adult children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, parents, and close family friends who reside with the care recipient. The caregiver must pass a background check and complete basic orientation training.
Most CCP provider agencies issue W-2 income to caregivers. Under IRS Notice 2014-7, qualifying live-in family caregivers receiving Medicaid-funded payments may be able to exclude this income from federal gross income. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Most Illinois CCP enrollments take 30–60 days from first contact to first paycheck. This includes: Medicaid verification (if already enrolled), scheduling the CCU assessment, completing the assessment, care plan development, caregiver background check and training, and first payroll cycle. Paid.care helps streamline every step.
County Community Care Units (CCUs) are local offices — usually run by Area Agencies on Aging — that administer CCP services in each Illinois county. Your CCU conducts the functional needs assessment, determines authorized hours, develops the care plan, and coordinates with your CCP provider agency like Paid.care.
Yes — this is one of the most common situations. Many Illinois families are already providing full-time care without compensation. CCP allows you to be paid retroactively from the point of authorization for the care you'll continue providing. You won't get back-pay for unpaid care provided before enrollment, but from your authorization date forward, your ongoing care is compensated.
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As of April 2026, Illinois spouses can be paid CCP caregivers. Mention this when you call and we'll confirm your eligibility immediately.
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Start Free Enrollment on Paid.care →Family members caring for an Illinois Medicaid recipient with depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions may qualify for CCP caregiver pay — up to $20/hr with no hours cap.
Yes. Illinois CCP does not require a specific diagnosis — it requires a functional assessment (DON score 29+) that measures difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs). Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions frequently result in ADL limitations that qualify for CCP services in Illinois.
Paid.care connects mental health caregivers with CCUs across all Illinois counties: Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, Winnebago County, and all 102 Illinois counties.
Adult children caring for an elderly parent (60+) in Illinois can get paid up to $20/hr through the Community Care Program — with no hours cap, no waitlist, and spouses now eligible as of April 2026.
The Illinois CCP is specifically designed for elderly adults (60+) on Medicaid who need help with daily activities. If your parent has Illinois Medicaid, is 60 or older, and scores 29+ on the DON assessment, you can be their paid caregiver through Paid.care — earning up to $20/hr as a W-2 employee.
All 102 Illinois counties are covered. Highest-volume CCP counties include Cook County (Chicago), DuPage County (Wheaton/Naperville), Lake County, Will County (Joliet), and Kane County (Aurora/Elgin).
Illinois CCP is not just for seniors. Adults under 60 with qualifying physical or developmental disabilities on Medicaid may also qualify — letting a family member receive caregiver wages up to $20/hr.
While CCP is primarily for adults 60+, Illinois also has the Home Services Program (HSP) through IDHS for adults under 60 with significant physical disabilities. Both programs pay family caregivers. Paid.care helps families navigate both pathways to find the right program for their situation.