Paid Family Caregiver Programs in Maine

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Bottom line: Maine does not have one simple program that pays any family member to care for an older adult at home. The real paths are usually MaineCare Section 19, state-funded Section 63, and caregiver respite through Maine’s aging network. Adult children are often easier to approve than spouses. A person with power of attorney, guardianship, conservatorship, or a representative role may be blocked from being paid in some models.

Emergency help now

• If the senior is in danger right now, call 911.
• If there may be abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call Maine Adult Protective Services at 1-800-624-8404, available 24 hours.
• If a hospital or nursing home discharge is coming soon, call Maine’s home-care assessment line at 1-833-525-5784 and ask for a long-term care assessment.
• If the caregiver is exhausted and needs relief, call the statewide Aging and Disability Resource Center line at 1-877-353-3771.

Quick help

• Best first call for most families: 1-877-353-3771. Ask for the Area Agency on Aging for your county.
• Ready for home-care screening: use Maine’s Home Care page and call 1-833-525-5784 if no current assessment has been done.
• Need MaineCare eligibility help: call the Office for Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357.
• Need help using online benefits: see the GFS guide to Maine benefits portals before you start forms.

Quick reference

Contents

• What paid caregiving means
• Questions before applying
• Section 19
• Section 63
• Section 12 and 96
• Respite and caregiver support
• Other backup options
• How to start
• Documents to gather
• Denied or delayed
• Local resources

What paid caregiving means in Maine

In Maine, “getting paid to care for Mom” usually does not mean the state sends a family check because the family is struggling. It usually means the older adult is approved for a home-care program. The program authorizes tasks and hours. Then the worker is paid through an agency or through a self-directed payroll system.

Maine’s home-care system is tied to assessments, care plans, worker rules, and budgets. The state says most in-home services require a functional and financial review. The same page lists several programs, including Section 19, Section 12, Section 96, state-funded Section 63, and homemaker help under Section 69.

This guide focuses on the programs most likely to matter when a Maine senior wants an adult child, spouse, or other relative to help at home. For a wider benefits overview, use the GFS guide to Maine senior benefits as a second step.

Current Maine waitlist facts

The latest public HCBS access table available when this guide was updated showed important differences by program. Section 19 had 3,718 participants and 0 on the waitlist. Section 12 had 357 participants and 0 on the waitlist. Section 63 had 708 participants and 1,204 on the waitlist. Section 69 had 1,168 participants and 1,405 on the waitlist.

These numbers do not mean every family gets quick help. A program can have no statewide waitlist and still have local worker shortages. In rural Maine, a care plan may be approved before an agency can staff the case.

Questions before applying

Ask these questions before anyone quits a job or counts on caregiver pay:

• Which program fits the senior: Section 19, Section 63, Section 12, respite, or another path?
• Which worker model applies: agency-based care or participant-directed care?
• Who is the caregiver: spouse, adult child, grandchild, sibling, neighbor, or friend?
• Does the caregiver hold a legal role: power of attorney, guardian, conservator, representative, or paid representative?
• What tasks are being done: bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, meals, medication reminders, respite, or household chores?
• How many hours are authorized: and are they weekly, monthly, or tied to certain tasks?

If the senior also has disability-related needs, the GFS guide to Maine disability help can help you sort out housing, access, equipment, and rights issues that may sit beside the caregiver case.

Section 19: MaineCare home and community benefits

What it helps with: Section 19 is Maine’s main MaineCare home and community program for older adults and adults with disabilities who need a nursing-facility level of care but want to stay in the community. The official Section 19 rule says covered services can include care coordination, personal care, attendant services, respite, meals, transportation, personal emergency response systems, assistive technology, environmental modifications, and the payroll support used in participant direction.

Who may qualify: The senior usually needs MaineCare financial eligibility and a medical assessment that shows the right level of care. The person must also be able to receive services safely at home or in another approved community setting.

Can a family member be paid? Often, yes. A family member who meets the rules may work as a Personal Support Specialist, often called a PSS. This is why an adult child may be a real option. The worker may need training, background checks, agency hiring, timesheets, and proof that the care is in the authorized plan.

Can a spouse be paid? Sometimes, but the rule is narrow. Section 19 allows spouse payment for extraordinary care in certain personal care situations. That means care beyond what a spouse would normally do in a household, needed to keep the person safe and avoid institutional care. It does not mean ordinary household help.

Participant direction: Section 19 can also let the member hire and manage an attendant. This gives more control, but it also adds rules. A spouse, guardian, conservator, or representative cannot be the paid attendant in that model. One attendant also cannot usually be paid for more than 40 hours a week for one member unless an exception applies.

Where to apply: Start with the state home-care process. If MaineCare is not active, you may also need the long-term care MaineCare application. If the senior already has an assessment, tell the office. If not, call 1-833-525-5784.

Reality check: Section 19 is often the strongest path, but it is not a blank check. The state approves specific tasks, hours, and providers. If you are comparing home care with a move to assisted living, see the GFS guide to assisted living in Maine for the bigger care decision.

Section 63: state-funded home care

What it helps with: Section 63 is called Home Based Supports and Services for Older and Disabled Adults. It is state-funded, not a regular MaineCare entitlement. The official Section 63 rule says the program helps eligible people avoid or delay institutional care when services are available.

Who may qualify: The rule says a consumer must be at least 18, live in Maine, and meet medical eligibility. It also sets liquid asset limits of $50,000 for one person and $75,000 for a couple, with a listed exception for certain former Chapter 11 consumers. The person must also lack enough resources to meet the need and be ineligible for certain other programs.

Can a family member be paid? A family member who meets the requirements may be paid as a PSS. But Section 63 has important conflict rules. A guardian, conservator, or person acting under power of attorney cannot be paid as a PSS for that consumer. In the consumer-directed option, an attendant cannot be the consumer’s representative.

What about spouses? Be careful. Section 63 says respite delivered by the consumer’s spouse is not covered. It also bars payment for personal care by certain legally responsible people. Because spouse rules can be harder to read than adult-child rules, ask the Service Coordination Agency to confirm the answer in writing before you rely on spouse pay.

Cost share and waitlist: Section 63 can include a consumer payment based on income and liquid assets. The rule also allows waiting lists when funds are not available. That is why many families should ask about Section 19 first and Section 63 at the same time.

Reality check: Section 63 can be very useful, but it is not fast for everyone. If you are waitlisted, ask for respite, homemaker support, and other referrals right away instead of waiting silently.

Section 12 and Section 96: useful, but not always the first answer

Maine’s home-care list also includes Section 12 Consumer Directed Attendant Services and Section 96 Private Duty Nursing and Personal Care Services. These are real programs, but they are not always the cleanest answer for a senior who wants an adult child or spouse paid for daily care.

If someone tells you to “just apply for Section 12,” slow down. Ask the assessor which section fits the senior’s health needs, financial status, and worker plan. Ask whether the family member can be paid under that exact section. Ask whether the worker must be agency-employed or self-directed.

Section 96 may matter when the person needs private duty nursing or personal care under MaineCare rules. But if the family’s main goal is to pay a relative for ordinary daily support, Section 19 or Section 63 may be easier to understand first.

Respite and caregiver support

Respite is not the same as a steady caregiver wage. But it can be the fastest real help when a family caregiver is burning out. Maine’s care partner page says the five Area Agencies on Aging run caregiver programs with support from the Office of Aging and Disability Services.

Caregiver support can include information, help finding services, support groups, training, counseling, and respite. It may also connect families to adult day services, homemaker help, or personal care. Medicaid is not always required for these caregiver supports.

For county-level contacts, use the GFS Maine AAA guide. The statewide number is 1-877-353-3771.

Other backup options

Paid Family Leave: Maine Paid Family Leave benefits are for workers who need time away from work for approved reasons, including family care. Benefits are only paid for leave starting on or after May 1, 2026. This can help an adult child take time off, but it does not make the child the senior’s long-term paid home-care worker.

Adult dependent care credit: Maine’s Adult Dependent Care Credit may help with certain adult day care, hospice, and respite costs. The state says eligible expenses are limited to $3,000 for one qualifying person or $6,000 for two or more, and the credit is refundable up to $500.

Training path: Some family workers need to become a Personal Support Specialist. Maine’s PSS training page explains the training system for unlicensed direct-care workers. Ask the agency whether prior CNA or direct-care training can count.

Private care agreement: If no public program fits, a private written care agreement may be safer than informal cash gifts. Keep timesheets, duties, pay rate, and payment records. Talk with an elder-law or tax professional if MaineCare may be needed later.

Other Maine help: If care is tied to housing instability, the GFS guide to Maine housing help may help you find rental, repair, and housing support. If the older adult is a veteran or surviving spouse, also check Maine veteran benefits, because VA-related options follow separate rules.

How to start without wasting time

1. Call the aging network first: Dial 1-877-353-3771 and ask for the Area Agency on Aging for the senior’s county. Say you need help finding paid family caregiver options, respite, and home-care screening.
2. Start the home-care assessment: If the senior needs hands-on help, call 1-833-525-5784 and ask for a functional assessment for in-home long-term care services.
3. Check MaineCare status: If the senior is not on MaineCare or is unsure, call OFI at 1-855-797-4357 or use My Maine Connection.
4. Name the exact caregiver: Tell the assessor whether the worker is a spouse, daughter, son, grandchild, sibling, neighbor, or friend.
5. Say the legal roles: Tell them if the caregiver has power of attorney, guardianship, conservatorship, or representative duties.
6. Ask for written answers: Ask whether the caregiver can be paid, whether agency care or self-direction is required, and what training is needed.

Phone scripts

Area Agency on Aging script: “I care for an older adult in Maine. We need help at home and I need to know whether respite, Section 19, Section 63, or another program fits. Can you help me start with the right office?”

Assessment line script: “I am calling to request a long-term care functional assessment. The person needs help with bathing, dressing, meals, transfers, and safety at home. We also want to know if a family member can be the worker.”

Worker approval script: “Before we complete hiring forms, can you confirm in writing whether this exact person can be paid? They are the senior’s adult child, and they also hold power of attorney.”

Delay script: “We were assessed or applied, but we have not received a clear next step. Please tell us what is missing, whether there is a waitlist, and what other supports we can use while we wait.”

Documents to gather

Reality checks

• Maine does not pay every family caregiver just because the family needs help.
• The senior must fit a program, and the care must be in an approved plan.
• Adult children are often easier to approve than spouses.
• Being power of attorney can help with applications but may block payment in some worker roles.
• No waitlist does not always mean a worker starts soon.
• Rural families should ask about self-direction early because agency staffing can be thin.
• Worker pay is not the same as the state reimbursement rate. Ask the agency or fiscal intermediary for the actual hourly pay.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming Maine has one automatic family caregiver stipend.
• Using a national article instead of Maine program rules.
• Assuming a spouse can be paid the same way as an adult child.
• Letting the caregiver become the representative without asking if that blocks pay.
• Waiting too long to collect bank statements and legal papers.
• Forgetting annual reassessments and Choice Letter deadlines.
• Not asking if the worker must pass training or background checks first.

What to do if denied, delayed, or overwhelmed

Ask for the reason in writing. If the problem is missing proof, send the missing item back with a dated note. If the problem is the wrong program, ask for screening under a different section instead of starting from zero.

If Section 63 is waitlisted, ask the assessor to refer you to respite, homemaker services, adult day programs, and other supports. If Section 19 is approved but no worker is available, ask about participant direction and backup planning.

If services are denied, reduced, or delayed too long, ask about appeal rights. For questions about covered MaineCare services, call MaineCare contacts at 1-800-977-6740. If the person is in a long-term care setting or receiving home care and has a complaint, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman can explain rights and complaint options.

If a crisis creates an immediate gap in food, housing, utilities, or safety, use the GFS guide to Maine emergency help while the caregiver case moves forward.

Local resources in Maine

Resumen en español

Maine no tiene un programa simple que pague automáticamente a cualquier familiar por cuidar a una persona mayor. Las opciones más comunes son Section 19 de MaineCare, Section 63 financiada por el estado, y apoyo para cuidadores por medio de las Agencias del Área sobre Envejecimiento.

Un hijo adulto puede ser una buena opción en algunos casos. Las reglas para esposos o esposas son más limitadas. También puede haber problemas si la misma persona tiene poder legal, tutela, curatela, o papel de representante. Llame al 1-877-353-3771 para empezar. Si la persona necesita una evaluación de cuidado en el hogar, llame al 1-833-525-5784.

FAQ

Can an adult child be paid to care for a Maine senior?

Often, yes, if the senior qualifies for the right program and the adult child meets worker rules. Section 19 and Section 63 are usually the clearest places to ask first. The child may be blocked if also serving as representative, guardian, conservator, or power of attorney in a way the program does not allow.

Can a spouse be paid in Maine?

Sometimes, but spouse payment is much narrower than adult-child payment. Under Section 19, spouse payment may be possible for extraordinary personal care through the right model. In participant direction, a spouse cannot be the paid attendant. Ask for the rule answer in writing.

Does the senior need MaineCare?

For Section 19 and Section 12, yes. Section 63 and Area Agency on Aging caregiver support may help people who are not on MaineCare. That is why families should ask about both MaineCare and non-MaineCare paths on the first call.

How much do family caregivers get paid in Maine?

There is no single statewide family caregiver wage. In agency-based care, the agency sets worker pay. In participant direction, wages depend on the approved budget and program rules. Ask the agency or fiscal intermediary for the real hourly pay before relying on the income.

What is the best first call?

For most families, call the statewide Aging and Disability Resource Center line at 1-877-353-3771. If the senior clearly needs a home-care assessment, also call 1-833-525-5784.

What if Section 63 has a waitlist?

Ask for referrals to respite, homemaker help, adult day services, and other supports. Also ask whether Section 19 or another MaineCare program should be screened at the same time.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.

Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Verification: Last verified 27 May 2026, next review 27 August 2026.

Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Next review: 27 August 2026