Introduction
You love your family members and naturally want to provide them with the best possible care. However, supporting a loved one with a disability can be challenging emotionally as well as financially. If you’re struggling to take care of a family member in the comfort of your own home, you should know that help exists. Under Arizona law, some family members can get paid to provide care under a program known as the ALTCS.
Also known as the Arizona Long Term Care System, the ALTCS exists to help Arizona residents in medical and financial need. If your loved one requires your assistance with basic tasks like dressing, showering, shopping, cleaning, and meal prep, then you may qualify for caregiver pay under through ALTCS. Keep reading to learn more about the Arizona Long Term Care System and discover whether you could get paid to support your loved one.
Determining ALTCS Caregiver Eligibility
The first step in qualifying for aid through the ALTCS is signing up. After submitting your information online, you can expect to hear back from the organization without a couple weeks. At that point, ALTCS will schedule a phone interview during which you will have to answer questions about your loved one.
Assuming you pre-qualify, you will have to submit to a financial interview followed by a medical interview. Care recipients must meet the required standards in order for caregivers to get aid. Additionally, the recipient must already be receiving aid or qualify for aid under the program. If the caregiver passes the screening and eligibility process, they can apply to be an employee for an AHCCCS/ALTCS-contracted home health agency.
ALTCS caregivers have to undergo training to qualify for aid. Expect to complete 20 e-learning hours and 42 hours in the classroom before you’re eligible to provide care. Participants must be 18 years of age or older. In some cases, individuals who are 16 or 17 can find work as Assistant Assisted Living Caregiver.
Payment for Caregivers
The ALTCS imposes strict rules regarding the amount of compensation caregivers can receive. Under the current policy, caregivers may not be compensated for more than 40 hours of work in a seven-day period. In general, the organization will pay caregivers for approximately 30 hours a week at a rate of $13.85 per hour.
Additionally, ALTCS caregivers can receive money for home modifications and assistive care technologies supporting their loved one. If you have to remodel your property to care for a family member with a disability, you can be reimbursed 50 percent for costs up to $1,000. Note that the family member in question must be 18 years or older and in need of daily living support.
Along with payment for caregivers, the ALTCS offers funding for respite care. In the event that a caregiver has to leave home for a period of time, the ALTCS will help pay for another professional to provide support for the person in need.
Let JacksonWhite Help You Manage Your Family’s Care
At JacksonWhite, our elder law attorneys have the knowledge and experience to handle a wide range of cases involving the ALTCS. We recognize that caring for a family member with a disability can be both emotionally and financially taxing. With that in mind, we work hand in hand with clients to help you qualify for the maximum benefits available to you. Our goal is to help you provide loved ones with the best possible care while ensuring your family’s assets remain intact.
Contact the JacksonWhite ALTCS team today at (480)467-4337 and learn more your options for long term care.