Providing care for a loved one at home is a full-time job. In Philadelphia, many families struggle to balance personal responsibilities with the medical needs of a child with disabilities or a senior parent. You may already be performing the work of a professional caregiver without receiving any compensation.
At EldaCare Home Health Services Inc., we believe families are the backbone of home health care. Through our Family Empowerment Model, we help you transition from an unpaid volunteer to a professional caregiver, receiving biweekly pay and clinical support.
Securing pay for the care you provide involves navigating the Pennsylvania Medicaid system. While "retroactive pay" for care provided years ago isn't typically available, you can ensure you are paid from the earliest possible date by following a specific legal and administrative path.
Follow these five steps to secure your compensation and professionalize your caregiving journey in Philadelphia.
Step 1: Verify Medicaid Financial Eligibility
Before you can be paid as a caregiver, the person receiving care must qualify for Pennsylvania Medicaid (Medical Assistance). This is the foundation of the Community HealthChoices (CHC) program, which funds home-based care for seniors and adults with disabilities.
Use the COMPASS Portal
Start by applying through COMPASS, the state’s online tool for health and human service benefits. You will need to provide detailed financial information, including:
- Gross monthly income.
- Asset statements (bank accounts, stocks, property).
- Proof of Pennsylvania residency.
Contact the Philadelphia County Assistance Office
If you prefer in-person or telephone assistance, contact the Philadelphia County Assistance Office. They will determine if the care recipient meets the income and resource limits for the "Long-Term Services and Supports" (LTSS) waiver.
Pro Tip: Apply immediately. The date you submit your application often serves as a marker for when future benefits can begin. Delays in filing lead to missed pay cycles that cannot be recovered later.
Step 2: Request a Functional Eligibility Assessment
Financial eligibility is only half of the equation. To qualify for paid home care, the state must determine that the individual requires a "Nursing Facility Level of Care." This means they need help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, eating, or mobility.
Contact the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA)
In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is the designated Area Agency on Aging. You must contact them to request a functional assessment. A social worker or assessor will visit the home to evaluate the care recipient’s physical and cognitive needs.
Call the PA Independent Enrollment Broker (PA IEB)
The PA Independent Enrollment Broker (PA IEB) manages the enrollment process for waiver services. You can call them at 1-877-550-4227 to start the process. They will coordinate with PCA and the County Assistance Office to ensure both financial and functional requirements are met.
Step 3: Select Your Community HealthChoices (CHC) Plan
Once eligibility is confirmed, the care recipient must choose a Managed Care Organization (MCO). In Philadelphia, you typically choose from three major plans:
- AmeriHealth Caritas
- Keystone First CHC
- PA Health & Wellness
Each plan offers a network of providers and a Service Coordinator. Your Service Coordinator is your primary contact for developing a "Person-Centered Service Plan." This plan outlines exactly how many hours of care the recipient needs per week.
Choose Participant-Directed Services
To get paid as a family member, you must ensure the participant selects the Participant-Directed Services model. This option allows the individual receiving care to choose their own caregiver: including family members or friends: rather than having an agency send a stranger into their home.
For more information on how these plans work, visit our FAQs page.
Step 4: Name the Family Member as the Official Caregiver
Once the care plan is in place and the number of hours is approved, the participant must officially name you as their caregiver.
Understand the Legal Limits
Under Pennsylvania's CHC program, most family members can be paid, including adult children and siblings. However, there are restrictions:
- Spouses are generally not eligible for payment under standard CHC rules.
- Legal Guardians or those with certain Power of Attorney statuses may face restrictions.
Minimize Onboarding Delays
This is where "retroactive" issues often arise. You cannot be paid for hours worked until you are fully onboarded as an employee. To secure the earliest possible start date, you must quickly complete:
- PA State Police criminal record checks.
- Child abuse clearances (if applicable).
- FBI fingerprinting (if you have lived outside PA in the last two years).
EldaCare specializes in speeding up this process. We guide you through the paperwork to ensure your official "hire date" is as close to the care plan approval date as possible. Check our services page for more details on our administrative support.
Step 5: Partner with EldaCare for RN-Supervised Care
The final step is choosing an agency to manage your employment and provide clinical oversight. EldaCare Home Health Services Inc. is ACHC accredited and operates under a unique Family Empowerment Model.
Why Choose EldaCare?
Unlike many agencies that simply process your payroll, EldaCare provides a comprehensive support system designed to improve the quality of care in your home.
- RN Supervision: All of our services are supervised by Registered Nurses. We provide training and support so you feel confident managing medical complexities, medication, or wound care.
- Biweekly Payments: We understand that financial stability is vital. We offer reliable, biweekly payments to our family caregivers, ensuring you are compensated for your hard work on a predictable schedule.
- 24/7 Support: We provide a 24/7 on-call service. If a medical issue arises in the middle of the night, you have a professional team ready to assist.
- Compassionate Advocacy: We serve as your advocate with insurance providers (Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP) to ensure your loved one receives the maximum hours they are entitled to.
Secure Your Professional Status
By onboarding with EldaCare, you are no longer just a "helper." You are a professional caregiver backed by an ACHC-accredited organization. This professionalization is key to maintaining long-term funding and ensuring the highest standards of care for your family.
Learn more about this process in our 2026 Step-by-Step Guide.
Take Action Today
The process of securing Medicaid home care services in Philadelphia is complex, but you don't have to do it alone. The sooner you start Step 1, the sooner you can begin receiving the financial support your family deserves.
Stop working for free. Transform your caregiving role into a professional partnership that empowers your family and protects your loved one's health.
Ready to get started?
- Call us: Dial 215-244-4114 to speak with our Philadelphia intake specialists.
- Consult: Schedule a free consultation to review your eligibility.
- Enroll: Let EldaCare handle the paperwork while you focus on your family.
Visit www.eldacarehomehealth.com to learn more about our commitment to compassionate, nurse-supervised home health care.