Eligibility Guide
Michigan Home Help Program Eligibility — Do You Qualify?
Before you can get a family member paid to provide care, you need to answer two questions: does the person receiving care qualify, and does the family member providing care qualify? This page answers both — clearly, with no runaround.
Two Sides of Eligibility
The Michigan Home Help Program has two participants: the person receiving care (the "consumer") and the paid caregiver. Both have their own eligibility requirements.
Person Receiving Care
- Has active Michigan Medicaid (full or dual eligible)
- Needs help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) at home
- Lives in a private home — not a nursing facility
- Any age — no minimum or maximum age restriction
Paid Caregiver
- Age 18 or older
- Not the spouse of the recipient
- Passes CHAMPS criminal background check
- Willing to complete caregiver enrollment paperwork
- No healthcare license or credentials required
Who Qualifies to Receive Home Help Services?
1. Michigan Medicaid Enrollment
The person receiving care must have full Michigan Medicaid (also called Medicaid fee-for-service) or qualify for a Medicaid home and community-based waiver. Medicare alone does not qualify. If the person has both Medicare and Medicaid ("dual eligible"), they likely qualify.
If the person doesn't currently have Medicaid, they may be able to apply through MI Bridges. Eligibility is based on income and assets. This is one of the first things we help families sort out.
2. Functional Need — Help With Daily Activities
The person must need assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — the hands-on tasks of daily life they can no longer do safely on their own. MDHHS assesses these during an in-home visit.
Bathing & personal hygiene
Showering, hair care, oral hygiene
Dressing
Putting on and removing clothing, managing closures
Grooming
Shaving, nail care, appearance
Eating
Meal assistance or feeding
Mobility
Moving safely around the home
Transferring
Getting in/out of bed, chairs, wheelchairs
Toileting
Bathroom assistance, continence care
The more tasks the person needs help with — and the more intensive that help is — the more hours will typically be authorized.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
Home Help also covers household assistance (IADLs). Here's exactly how many hours MDHHS authorizes for each type of household assistance — set by MDHHS policy:
| Service | Monthly Maximum |
|---|---|
| Meal preparation | Up to 25 hours/month |
| Laundry | Up to 7 hours/month |
| Light housework | Up to 6 hours/month |
| Shopping | Up to 5 hours/month |
Note: In shared living arrangements, IADL hours are prorated by half. Total authorized hours across all services are also subject to the overall monthly care plan ceiling.
3. Community-Based Living
The person receiving care must live in a private home — their own home or a family member's home. The Michigan Home Help Program does not cover care provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or adult foster care homes.
4. No Age Restriction
There is no minimum or maximum age for the person receiving care. Both elderly individuals and younger adults with disabilities can qualify, as long as they meet the Medicaid and functional need requirements.
Who Can Be a Paid Caregiver?
This is where the program gets powerful — and where most families are surprised. Under the Michigan Home Help Program, the following people can be enrolled as paid caregivers:
Important: The Spouse Exception
Spouses cannot be paid to care for each other. This is a federal Medicaid rule that applies in all 50 states. If a spouse caregiver situation is involved, another family member may still qualify. The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver has different rules — worth exploring if spouses are the only available caregiver.
What Can Disqualify a Caregiver?
Criminal Background Check
All caregivers must pass a criminal history check through Michigan's CHAMPS system. The check primarily looks for crimes involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, and certain felony convictions. Not every criminal record is disqualifying — specifics matter.
Age Requirement
All caregivers must be at least 18 years old.
What Happens During the MDHHS Eligibility Assessment?
Once Medicaid is confirmed, MDHHS schedules an in-home needs assessment. A caseworker visits the home and evaluates what care is needed and how much. This assessment determines not just whether the person qualifies — but how many hours of care will be funded.
Reviews medical diagnoses and records
Observes and assesses daily living tasks
Evaluates how much assistance is required
Determines authorized care hours per month
Creates a written service plan (MSA-4676)
Pro tip: Preparation matters.
Families who clearly describe the full scope of care needed — and bring medical documentation — tend to get more hours authorized. This is one area where working with HHN makes a real difference. We help you prepare for the assessment before the caseworker arrives.
Check if your family qualifies
Free 15-minute call. We'll review your situation and tell you honestly whether the program applies. No cost, no obligation.