Caring For a Spouse

[DeniseW632353]

Are the rules regarding caring for a spouse State or Federal I acted? My son is disabled due to an MVA in 2019. His common law wife is his primary caretaker and had not been employed when the accident happened. She was a stay at home mom with 5 children. Needless to say there was a period of financial issues until she could find employment. At the time, she was told that she could not get paid as his caregiver. This rule was enacted to prevent families from committing fraud. Totally understandable. --> My husband and I separated in 2006. We never legally divorced so in PA we are still considered married. I live at a different address than my husband's. More than 50 miles away. After a life and death scare and a few days in the hospital a year ago, my husband was diagnosed with COPD and has other health issues that I haven't been told about. He has a really hard time breathing and needs a caretaker to run errands, do housekeeping, laundry, take the dogs out for walks and to vet appointments, and help him fill out forms and other important documents as he receives them. He has asked me for help because I am unemployed at the moment and really the only one available to help him when he needs it. Does anyone know if the  spousal caretaker in this case could get paid to be his caretaker? I am hoping that the fact that I don't live with him will allow me to receive the training needed to become a certified HHW and get compensated for it. We have two boys together who cannot be there to help him. Our youngest son has reached burnout and is looking at me to help extend his dad's quality of life by helping him when he needs it but I also cannot afford not to have any income. 

[BobR710327]

Wondering how you are doing? I'm the sole caregiver for my wife. Although our situations are a little different, perhaps sharing may help us both.  Were you able to get the paid caregiver option from  Medicaid?  I contacted a Medicaid lawyer who told me in my situation Hospice through Medicare is a better option.  He arranged a three-way phone conversation with a hospice  provider who started the process and should be getting back  to me soon. My wife is not willing to accept help from anyone but me.  Some long nights and days.  

[GailL1]

@DeniseW632353 

Paid caregiver (family) is a MEDICAID program and is established by and ran by the state as part of a waiver program. - So, IF the state has such a program, IF he is low income and has MEDICAID and IF you qualify for this (family) caregiver status - I know in my state the family caregiver has to live with the Medicaid beneficiary to be paid for the job.