Am I Eligible? A State-by-State Checklist for Structured Family Caregiving

If you’ve read our guides on getting paid to care for a parent, spouse, or loved one, you’ve probably landed on the same question: “Okay, but do I actually qualify?”

It’s the most common question our care coordinators hear — and the honest answer is, “it depends,” because eligibility rules are different in every state. New Hampshire’s Adult Family Care Program, Indiana’s Structured Family Caregiving Program, Missouri’s Structured Family Caregiving Waiver, and Ohio’s Structured Family Caregiving benefit all run through Medicaid, but each has its own income limits, medical requirements, and caregiver rules.

This checklist walks through both sides of eligibility — the care recipient (your loved one) and the caregiver (you) — for each of the four states we serve. Use it to get a realistic first read on your situation before you apply. Because these programs involve Medicaid financial rules that change from year to year, treat this as a starting point, not a final answer — a Family Support Services care coordinator can confirm your exact eligibility in one phone call.

Before You Check Your State: 4 Things Every Program Has in Common

Regardless of which state you’re in, structured family caregiving programs generally share a few core requirements:

1. Your loved one must already qualify for Medicaid (or be financially close to qualifying) and need a “nursing facility level of care” — meaning they need hands-on help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, mobility, or eating.
2. The caregiver and care recipient typically must live together full-time. This isn’t a program for occasional or part-time help — it’s built around someone who is already the primary, live-in caregiver.
3. The caregiver must be at least 18 years old, physically and mentally able to provide care, and willing to pass a criminal background check.
4. Payment flows through a licensed agency provider (like Family Support Services) — you don’t bill Medicaid directly. The agency handles enrollment, training, and your pay.

Now let’s break down what’s specific to your state.

New Hampshire: Adult Family Care (AFC) Program

New Hampshire’s program runs through the Choices for Independence (CFI) Medicaid Waiver.

Your loved one likely qualifies if they:

• Are a New Hampshire resident
• Need help with two or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, or mobility
• Meet CFI’s Medicaid income and asset limits (as of 2026, the income limit is roughly $2,982/month, with an asset limit around $2,500 for a single applicant)
• Pass a functional needs assessment through New Hampshire’s Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS)

You likely qualify as the caregiver if you:

• Are 18 or older
• Are physically and mentally capable of providing daily care
• Pass a criminal background check
• Are chosen by your loved one (or their guardian) as their caregiver under CFI’s self-directed care option

Good to know: If your loved one is married and only one spouse is applying, the non-applicant spouse’s income and assets generally aren’t counted against eligibility — which can make qualifying easier for couples than families assume.

Indiana: Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)

Indiana’s program runs through the PathWays for Aging Waiver (for adults 60+) or the Health and Wellness Waiver (for adults under 60), and is one of the only states in our network that allows spouses to serve as paid caregivers without extra restrictions.

Your loved one likely qualifies if they:

• Are enrolled in Indiana Medicaid and meet the financial limits (income around $2,982/month, assets around $2,000)
• Need help with at least three personal care tasks daily
• Would otherwise require nursing-facility-level care
• Will live full-time with their caregiver

You likely qualify as the caregiver if you:

• Are 18 or older
• Are deemed physically and mentally capable of caregiving
• Pass a criminal background check
• Live full-time in the same home as your loved one
• Complete SFC training once approved

Good to know: Indiana has a real waitlist for waiver slots — families commonly wait 6–9 months between applying and being approved for services. If this applies to you, the smart move is to start your application now rather than waiting until the need becomes urgent.

Missouri: Structured Family Caregiving Waiver (SFCW)

This is the one place where Missouri stands apart from the other three states: SFCW is only available if your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia disorder. It isn’t available for other conditions or general frailty, even if daily care needs are significant.

Your loved one likely qualifies if they:

• Are 21 or older
• Have an official Alzheimer’s or related dementia diagnosis from a Missouri-licensed physician
• Have active Missouri Medicaid (or are close to the income limit — roughly $1,131/month for a single applicant, though this figure is reassessed annually)
• Already have a live-in, unpaid caregiver who will continue in that role once approved

You likely qualify as the caregiver if you:

• Live full-time in the same household as your loved one
• Are a family member, friend, or legal guardian (spouses are allowed)
• Are willing to be formally employed by a Structured Family Caregiving provider agency
• Can help identify a qualified substitute caregiver who’s available to step in when you can’t be

Good to know: Because Missouri’s income limit is calculated differently than New Hampshire’s, Indiana’s, or Ohio’s, families sometimes assume they make “too much” to qualify when they’re actually still eligible, or vice versa. This is one of the most common reasons families never apply — don’t rule yourself out based on assumptions; ask a coordinator to run the actual numbers.

Ohio: Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)

Ohio delivers SFC through several Medicaid waivers — PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, and the DODD waivers for individuals with developmental disabilities — so which pathway applies depends on your loved one’s age and needs.

Your loved one likely qualifies if they:

• Are enrolled in a qualifying Ohio Medicaid waiver
• Meet nursing-facility level-of-care requirements
• Live in a qualifying home setting (not a nursing facility or other institution)
• Complete an assessment confirming SFC is appropriate for their needs

You likely qualify as the caregiver if you:

• Are 18 or older
• Live full-time with your loved one
• Pass a background check
• Complete required training through your SFC provider agency (commonly at least 8 hours)
• Provide what Ohio classifies as “extraordinary care,” as measured by the state’s Extraordinary Care Instrument

Good to know: Ohio places extra restrictions on spousal caregivers — a spouse can only be paid through SFC if there’s no other willing or able caregiver available and the agency confirms your loved one’s health and safety needs will still be met. If you’re a spouse, it’s worth discussing your specific situation directly with an agency early on.

Quick Comparison

Income and asset limits change annually and are not included in this table — ask your care coordinator for the current figures.

What to Do If You Think You Qualify

1. Don’t self-disqualify. The most common mistake we see is families assuming they don’t qualify based on a rule in a different state, an outdated number, or a rumor from a friend. Every family’s numbers are different.
2. Gather the basics before you call: your loved one’s current Medicaid status (or income/assets if not yet enrolled), a general sense of the daily care they need, and your own living situation.
3. Talk to a coordinator, not just a caseworker. State caseworkers can confirm Medicaid eligibility, but a coordinator at an agency like Family Support Services can walk you through what SFC/AFC specifically requires and help you avoid paperwork delays that slow down approval.
4. Ask about waitlists early. If your state’s waiver has a waitlist, getting your name on it sooner rather than later can save months later on.

Not Sure Where You Stand? Let’s Find Out Together

Eligibility rules shift, income limits update every year, and every family’s situation has its own wrinkles — a second job, a spouse’s income, a diagnosis that’s still pending. Rather than guessing from a checklist, the fastest way to know for certain is a short conversation with our team.

Call Family Support Services at 1 (833) 877-2206 or contact us online and we’ll walk through your specific situation, state by state, and let you know exactly where you stand.

This article is intended for general informational purposes and reflects program rules as of 2026. Medicaid income limits, asset limits, and program requirements change over time and can vary based on individual circumstances. Contact Family Support Services or your state Medicaid office to confirm current eligibility.