How to Get Paid to Care for a Parent in Texas (2026): CDS and More

ElderHearth offers general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Texas Medicaid rules are set by the state and administered through managed care plans, so confirm the details with Texas Health and Human Services (2-1-1) or your parent's plan.

If you are caring for an aging parent in Texas, you can often be paid for it through the state's Medicaid program. The main route to get paid to care for a parent in Texas is the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option under STAR+PLUS, Texas's Medicaid managed long-term care program. CDS lets your parent hire and direct their own caregiver, and an adult child can be that paid caregiver. The pay is modest and the eligibility rules are real, but for many families it turns unpaid care into some income. This guide covers how CDS works, who qualifies, what it pays, and how to apply.

How to get paid to care for a parent in Texas: Consumer Directed Services

Consumer Directed Services (CDS) is the self-direction option within Texas Medicaid, most commonly through the STAR+PLUS managed care program for older adults and people with disabilities. Under CDS, your parent (or their representative) becomes the employer of record: they choose the caregiver, set the schedule, and approve the hours, while a financial management agency handles payroll and taxes.

Who can be the paid caregiver matters, and Texas has a clear line: an adult child, a sibling, or a close friend can be hired, but a spouse or a legal guardian generally cannot. So an adult child caring for a parent is squarely within the rules.

What CDS pays

Texas does not set one statewide caregiver wage. Under CDS, pay commonly runs in the range of $10 to $17 an hour, and your parent, as the employer, has some say in setting it within the plan's budget. The number of authorized hours comes from an assessment of how much help your parent needs.

Who qualifies

Eligibility turns on your parent:

• Your parent must be enrolled in Medicaid through STAR+PLUS. For 2026, that generally means income at or below about $2,982 a month and countable assets under $2,000 for an individual, with the home and one vehicle exempt.
• They must be assessed as needing long-term care at a level that supports in-home services.
• You, the caregiver, must be 18 or older, pass a background check, and complete the CDS enrollment paperwork.

How to apply in Texas

The process runs through the state and a managed care plan:

1. Call 2-1-1 or visit YourTexasBenefits.com to apply for Medicaid and ask to be added to the interest list for STAR+PLUS long-term services.
2. Complete the medical and financial assessment that determines eligibility and the level of care.
3. Choose a STAR+PLUS managed care plan and tell your service coordinator you want the Consumer Directed Services option.
4. Enroll as the provider through the plan's financial management agency, completing the background check and paperwork so your hours can be paid.

Plan for this to take roughly 30 to 90 days from start to first paycheck.

Other ways to get paid to care for a parent in Texas

CDS is the main path, but not the only one:

• VA programs, if your parent is a veteran, can pay a family caregiver through Veteran-Directed Care or the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
• A personal care agreement, if your parent can pay from their own savings, sets the hours, duties, and pay in writing, which matters for family clarity, taxes, and any future Medicaid application.

For the full national picture of every program and how they compare, see our main guide to how to get paid to care for an elderly parent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get paid to care for my parent in Texas? Often, yes. The main way is Consumer Directed Services (CDS) under STAR+PLUS, Texas Medicaid's self-direction option, which lets your parent hire a family caregiver such as an adult child. Your parent must qualify for Medicaid and be assessed as needing long-term care, and you must pass a background check and enroll.

How much do family caregivers get paid in Texas? Texas does not set one rate. Under CDS, pay commonly runs about $10 to $17 an hour, and your parent has some say within the plan's budget. The authorized hours depend on the assessed level of need.

Can an adult child be paid to care for a parent in Texas? Yes. Under CDS, an adult child, sibling, or close friend can be hired as the paid caregiver. A spouse or a legal guardian generally cannot be paid.

Does Texas pay family caregivers outside of Medicaid? Yes, in some cases. The VA pays family caregivers of eligible veterans, and a private personal care agreement lets a parent pay you from their own funds. Texas does not have a state paid family leave program.

Where to start

The fastest first step is to call 2-1-1 or apply at YourTexasBenefits.com to get your parent onto Medicaid and the STAR+PLUS interest list, then ask specifically about Consumer Directed Services. If your parent is a veteran, look at the VA programs in parallel. Getting set up to get paid to care for a parent in Texas takes patience with the paperwork, but it is a real way to keep aging in place affordable for your family.

If you would like help figuring out where to begin, you are welcome to reach out.

Sources

• Texas Health and Human Services, STAR+PLUS.
• Texas Health and Human Services, Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Caregiver Support Program.