Family Caregiver Support Program Eligibility Checker
Check your eligibility for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and see how it differs from being paid as a caregiver.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program gives family caregivers free services: respite care, counseling, training and support groups. There is no income test. It does not pay you. Being paid as a caregiver is a separate matter that goes through your state's Medicaid program.
"Family caregiver support" can mean two things: free support services, or pay for the care you provide. This tool checks the first and points you to the right place for the second.
Check Your NFCSP Eligibility
NFCSP provides services, not payment
- Information about available services and assistance applying for other benefits
- Individual counseling, support groups, and training
- Respite care: temporary relief through in-home care, adult day services or short overnight stays
- Supplemental services: minor home modifications, assistive devices, personal emergency response systems, transportation
Looking to get PAID as a family caregiver instead?
Pay for caregiving comes through state Medicaid self-directed care programs, such as CDPAP in New York or IHSS in California. It depends on the care recipient's Medicaid status and needs, not on your age. Use the Paid Family Caregiver Eligibility Checker to check.
NFCSP is administered locally through Area Agencies on Aging. Use this site's Area Agency on Aging Locator to find yours and apply.
Four ways to qualify. You need to meet only one:
| You are | Caring for |
|---|---|
| 18 or older | Someone 60 or older |
| 18 or older | Someone of any age with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia |
| 55 or older, a relative but not the parent | A child under 18 you are raising |
| 55 or older, a relative | An adult aged 18 to 59 with a disability |
None of these has an income or asset test.
What the program provides.
- Respite care: someone else looks after the person for a few hours or days, at home, at an adult day center or in a short overnight stay.
- Counseling, support groups and caregiver training.
- Help finding and applying for other benefits.
- In some areas, small extras such as minor home modifications or an emergency response system.
What is offered and how much differs by area, and some services have waiting lists. Respite hours are usually limited, so ask how many you can receive in a year.
How to apply. Call your local Area Agency on Aging, which runs the program, and ask for the family caregiver support program. Have ready the age and condition of the person you care for, your relationship, and what kind of help you need most.
If you are looking for pay. That goes through a state Medicaid self-directed care program, and eligibility depends on the person receiving care. Use the Paid Family Caregiver Eligibility Checker. You can use both: free support from this program and pay through Medicaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the National Family Caregiver Support Program?
Adults 18 or older caring for someone 60 or older, or for someone of any age with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Also relatives 55 or older, other than the parent, who are raising a child, and relatives 55 or older caring for an adult aged 18 to 59 with a disability.
Does the National Family Caregiver Support Program pay caregivers directly?
No. It provides services such as respite care, counseling and support groups, not cash.
Is there an income limit for the National Family Caregiver Support Program?
No. Eligibility depends on age and caregiving role, not on income or assets.
How do I get paid to be a family caregiver?
Paid caregiving is usually arranged through a state Medicaid self-directed care program and depends on the care recipient's Medicaid enrollment and needs. Use our Paid Family Caregiver Eligibility Checker, or ask your state Medicaid agency.
What is respite care?
Temporary relief from caregiving. It can be in-home care, adult day services or a short overnight stay, so that the family caregiver gets a break.
How do I apply for the National Family Caregiver Support Program?
Through your local Area Agency on Aging, which runs the program in your area.
This tool gives a general eligibility check for the National Family Caregiver Support Program based on federal Older Americans Act rules. It is not a determination of eligibility. Services and availability differ by Area Agency on Aging. Paid caregiving is governed by state Medicaid rules, which this tool does not cover. For an official decision, contact your local Area Agency on Aging or state Medicaid agency.