Oakland County Home Help Program — Get Paid to Care for a Family Member

If you're caring for an aging parent, a disabled loved one, or another family member in Oakland County — and you're doing it without any financial support — there's something you should know.

There's a Michigan Medicaid program that pays family members to provide in-home care. It's called the Michigan Home Help Program, and Oakland County families are eligible.

You don't have to be a professional caregiver. You don't have to work for an agency. If your family member qualifies for Michigan Medicaid and needs help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or getting around safely, you could be paid for the care you're already providing.

How the Michigan Home Help Program Works in Oakland County

The Michigan Home Help Program is run by MDHHS and available statewide — including every city and township in Oakland County, from Pontiac to Troy, Royal Oak to Waterford, Southfield to Auburn Hills.

Here's how it works:

1. The person receiving care qualifies for Michigan Medicaid — or applies and gets approved
2. An MDHHS caseworker conducts an in-home assessment to determine care needs
3. Care hours are authorized based on what the person needs help with
4. A family member (or close friend) enrolls as the paid caregiver
5. Caregiving begins — and the caregiver receives paychecks through the state's payroll system

The program covers help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, and eating.

Who Can Be a Paid Caregiver?

Adult children, siblings, other relatives, and close friends can all be paid caregivers under the Home Help Program. Note that spouses cannot be paid caregivers under this particular program.

There's no requirement to have caregiving experience or a medical background. You just need to be willing to help, pass a background check, and complete the enrollment process.

Oakland County MDHHS Office

If you need to connect with MDHHS directly or apply for Medicaid in person:

Oakland County MDHHS Office 📍 51111 Woodward Avenue, Pontiac, MI 48342 📞 (248) 975-4800

You can also apply for Michigan Medicaid online at MI Bridges without visiting an office.

How Much Does the Program Pay?

As of January 1, 2026, the pay rate is $18 per hour, set statewide by MDHHS.

| Hours/Week | Monthly Earnings | |-----------|-----------------| | 15 hrs/week | ~$1,170/month | | 20 hrs/week | ~$1,566/month | | 30 hrs/week | ~$2,340/month |

How Home Help Navigators Serves Oakland County Families

At Home Help Navigators, we handle the enrollment process for Oakland County families from start to finish:

• Confirming Medicaid eligibility before anything else
• Preparing your family for the MDHHS assessment so you get the hours you actually need
• Completing the caregiver enrollment paperwork correctly the first time
• Guiding you through CHAMPS enrollment and the payroll setup process
• Being there if anything goes wrong — including denials and appeals

The Michigan Home Help Program is worth navigating. We've seen it change families' financial situations in a meaningful way. But the enrollment process can be confusing if you're doing it alone.

We make it straightforward.

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Ready to find out if your Oakland County family qualifies? Check your eligibility online or schedule a free 15-minute call. No forms to fill out. No cost. No obligation.

Related: Michigan Home Help Program Complete Guide · Wayne County Home Help Program · Macomb County Home Help Program