Key Takeaways
- Eligible family members may be paid caregivers through Illinois’ Community Care Program (CCP), depending on program requirements and approval.
- The senior must be 60+, an Illinois resident, and have non-exempt assets under $17,500.[1]
- As of April 2026, spouses may also serve as paid caregivers under CCP, subject to program requirements.[4]
- Many caregivers begin receiving pay after completing enrollment and agency onboarding, although timelines vary.
- Home Care Powered by AUAF currently pays $21/hr to trained family caregivers.
Estimated read time: 4 minutes
If you’re already helping an aging parent with meals, medication, or personal care, you may be wondering how to become a paid caregiver for a family member in Illinois in 2026. The good news: Illinois offers programs that may allow eligible family members to become paid caregivers. Millions of American families provide unpaid elder care, and many never realize they may qualify to be paid for it through an Illinois program.
The Caregiving Tasks You May Already Be Doing
As a parent or relative ages, you often take on small tasks without calling it caregiving: laundry, help with grooming, personal care, meal preparation, and accompanying them to appointments. These are the same core duties that come with a paid caregiver role. If you already do them, you may already be doing many of the same tasks performed by paid caregivers.
Is Family Caregiving the Right Fit?
Many seniors feel safer receiving care from someone they know. You already understand your loved one’s habits, preferences, and needs in a way a new aide cannot match right away. Still, family caregiving is real work that takes patience and consistency, not just good intentions. If it does not feel like the right fit, the trained caregivers at Home Care Powered by AUAF are another option.
What Is the Community Care Program (CCP)?
The Community Care Program is administered by the Illinois Department on Aging. It lets older adults stay in their own homes instead of moving into a nursing facility. Because CCP operates through a home and community-based Medicaid waiver, the program helps eligible older adults receive care in their homes rather than in institutional settings. As a result, an eligible trusted family member, friend, or neighbor may be eligible to step into the paid caregiver role.
Trusted by Illinois Families
Who Qualifies for Family Caregiving Under CCP
Before you apply, check both sides of the equation: the senior’s eligibility and your own. On the caregiver side, you’ll need to be at least 18 and pass a background check — see the full certification and training requirements before you start the process.
The points below apply to the person receiving care (senior care recipient):[1]
Because eligibility is assessed separately for the caregiver and the care recipient, a spouse, adult child, or other family member or friend may all be considered, depending on the specific program. Eligibility and care arrangements are determined through the appropriate assessment process. Not sure it’s the right fit day to day? Some families start by exploring caregiver support groups in the Chicago area before committing.
You do not need a special caregiver license in Illinois. You do need to pass a background check and complete your home care agency’s required training before you start.
Can a Spouse Be a Paid Caregiver?
As of April 2026, Illinois expanded who may serve as a paid caregiver under the Community Care Program, and spouses may now be eligible, subject to program requirements and approval.[4] Because this change is recent, confirm the current rules with your Care Coordination Unit or the Illinois Department on Aging before relying on it for your situation.
Illinois Caregiver Programs: CCP vs. HSP
Not every family fits the same program. The Community Care Program (CCP) serves older adults age 60 and up. However, if your loved one is under 60 and living with a disability, the Home Services Program (HSP)[3] is the relevant path instead. HSP works a little differently. The care recipient hires, trains, supervises, and directs their own personal assistant, and depending on program requirements, adult children and certain relatives may be eligible to serve as paid caregivers.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Contact a Care Coordination Unit (CCU) to start the assessment for your older family member.
- Complete the Determination of Need (DON) assessment, which sets the approved hours of home care and personal care your loved one qualifies for.
- Choose a provider agency that hires family members as caregivers — not every agency in Illinois does.
- Apply as the caregiver, including a background check and the required orientation and training hours. Start your application through our caregiver application page.
- Begin providing approved care after completing the required enrollment process and agency onboarding.
You do not have to wait for one step to finish before starting the next. In many cases, you can begin your caregiver application while your loved one is still completing enrollment, so the process moves faster.
How Much Do Family Caregivers Get Paid in Illinois in 2026?
Home Care Powered by AUAF currently pays $21 per hour to family caregivers, with your exact weekly hours set by your loved one’s DON score. For a full breakdown by care level, see our 2026 family caregiver pay rate guide. If caregiving alone isn’t sustainable day to day, ask your CCU about respite care, which gives you scheduled breaks while your loved one continues receiving care. And if you’re weighing whether this is the right path at all, our guide on becoming a paid caregiver for your mother at home walks through the decision in more depth. You can also browse open roles on our caregiver careers page.
Care Is More Than Physical Help
Caregiving is not only about bathing, meals, and medication reminders. Company matters just as much. Regular conversation, shared activities, and simple check-ins help older adults stay socially connected and reduce feelings of loneliness. If you are already the person your loved one calls to check in, that counts as care too.
We have helped thousands of Illinois families for more than 30 years.
Cannot get to our Lincolnwood office? A representative can come to you to start the process. Just call ahead to set it up.
Ready to look into becoming a paid caregiver for your loved one? Start your application with Home Care Powered by AUAF, or call (773) 274-9262 to talk through your situation first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get paid for taking care of a family member in Illinois?
Yes. Through the Community Care Program, eligible family members may be paid to provide home care and personal care to an older adult who meets the program’s eligibility requirements.
What do I need to get paid for taking care of a family member?
You’ll need your loved one enrolled in CCP or HSP, a provider agency willing to hire family, and to complete a background check and training. The Illinois Department on Aging oversees CCP enrollment through local Care Coordination Units.
How much do family caregivers make in Illinois?
Home Care Powered by AUAF currently pays eligible family caregivers $21 per hour. Weekly earnings depend on the number of approved service hours.
What disqualifies you from being a caregiver in Illinois?
Failing a background check, not meeting the minimum age or training requirements, or the care recipient not meeting CCP’s asset and care-need criteria can all disqualify an applicant. A Care Coordination Unit can confirm specifics for your situation.
Do you need a license to be a caregiver in Illinois?
No. Illinois does not require a special license to become a paid family caregiver. You do need to pass a background check and complete your agency’s training program.
Can a friend become a paid caregiver in Illinois?
Yes. Depending on the program, friends, neighbors, and many relatives may be eligible to serve as paid caregivers, as long as the care recipient is eligible and the caregiver meets the age, background check, and training requirements.
Sources
Primary sources for the eligibility details on this page:
- Community Care Program — Illinois Department on Aging. ilaging.illinois.gov
- Programs — Illinois Department on Aging. ilaging.illinois.gov
- Home Services Program — Illinois Department of Human Services. dhs.state.il.us
- April 2026 CCP spousal-eligibility change — illinois.gov.
