How to Pay for In-Home Care
How to Pay for Home Care in Mississippi
Jump to a state to see its Medicaid programs, waivers, and other ways to help pay for in-home care.
Mississippi families typically start with the Mississippi Access to Care (MAC) Center for long-term-services navigation, then screen adults 21+ for the Elderly & Disabled Waiver if they need a nursing-facility level of care. Those with severe physical disabilities should look at the Department of Rehabilitation Services' Independent Living Waiver and State Attendant Care Program, and traumatic brain or spinal cord injury cases should also screen the TBI/SCI Waiver and Trust Fund. Intellectual/developmental disability needs route through the Department of Mental Health for ID/DD Waiver and 1915(i) Community Support Program services, and every plan can be layered with Family Caregiver Support, the Mississippi Dementia Care Program, Lifespan Respite vouchers, Medicare Savings, SHIP, LIHEAP, SNAP, homestead exemptions, and Veteran benefits.
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by Valerie VanBooven, RN, BSN
Mississippi Medicaid / E&D Waiver
Elderly & Disabled (E&D) Waiver
YesHelps pay for: Medicaid HCBS that can replace or reduce nursing-home care through services delivered at home and in the community.
Who qualifies: Age 21+; nursing-facility level of care; SSI or waiver financial eligibility up to 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate; medical criteria apply.
How to start: Contact MAC or the Division of Medicaid for screening and waiver referral.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct participant-paid-family model identified; verify agency employment rules
E&D Personal Care Services
YesHelps pay for: Hands-on assistance with daily activities can replace privately purchased non-medical home-care hours.
Who qualifies: E&D waiver enrollment and care-plan authorization based on assessed need.
How to start: Ask the E&D case manager to assess personal-care hours.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Generally agency-delivered; a relative would need to meet provider/employment rules if allowed
E&D In-Home Respite
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Temporary in-home relief for an unpaid caregiver.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment; respite must be authorized in the plan of care.
How to start: Request in-home respite during care planning.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage to the primary unpaid caregiver
E&D Adult Day Health Care
Indirect / day careHelps pay for: Daytime supervision and health/support services can reduce paid or unpaid care hours at home.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment and assessed need; provider availability applies.
How to start: Ask whether adult day health care fits the care plan.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
E&D Home-Delivered Meals
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Delivered meals can reduce meal-preparation workload and related caregiver hours.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment and plan authorization.
How to start: Ask the case manager about home-delivered meals.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
E&D Expanded Home Health Visits
Yes - skilled home careHelps pay for: Additional authorized home-health visits can offset private skilled-care costs.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment, medical necessity and plan authorization.
How to start: Ask the case manager and treating clinician about expanded home health.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
E&D Community Transition Services
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: One-time supports can help a qualifying person move from an institution back to a community residence.
Who qualifies: E&D eligibility plus transition from an institutional setting; approved transition plan required.
How to start: Ask MAC/case management about transition eligibility before discharge.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
E&D Environmental Safety Services
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Authorized safety-related supports can reduce the need for privately purchased home-safety interventions.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment and assessed environmental/safety need.
How to start: Discuss safety risks with the waiver case manager.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
E&D Medication Management
Indirect / clinical supportHelps pay for: Authorized medication-management support can reduce caregiver workload and medication-related risk.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment and plan authorization.
How to start: Ask the case manager whether medication management is indicated.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
E&D Physical / Speech Therapy
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Waiver-authorized therapy can reduce private-pay rehabilitation expenses when included in the care plan.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment; medical necessity and service-plan authorization.
How to start: Ask the case manager and clinician about therapy needs.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
E&D Institutional Respite
Respite / substitute careHelps pay for: Short-term facility respite can give a regular caregiver temporary relief.
Who qualifies: E&D enrollment and authorization; facility/provider availability applies.
How to start: Request respite options through case management.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage
Mississippi Medicaid / Independent Living
Independent Living (IL) Waiver
YesHelps pay for: HCBS for people age 16+ with severe orthopedic and/or neurological impairments who otherwise need nursing-facility care.
Who qualifies: Age 16+; severe orthopedic/neurological impairment; medically stable; must be able to express needs; Medicaid category/financial rules apply.
How to start: Request an MDRS OSDP referral and waiver screening.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially - attendant is participant-chosen; confirm family relationship rules with MDRS
IL Waiver Personal Care Attendant
YesHelps pay for: An attendant chosen by the participant assists with activities of daily living.
Who qualifies: IL waiver enrollment and authorized attendant-care need.
How to start: Ask MDRS about attendant selection, enrollment and payroll/provider rules.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially - participant chooses attendant; verify whether the specific relative can be paid
IL Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Home modifications such as ramps or door widening can make the home safer and reduce hands-on assistance needs.
Who qualifies: IL waiver enrollment and assessed need; modifications must meet waiver rules.
How to start: Request an accessibility assessment through MDRS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
IL Specialized Medical Equipment & Supplies
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Authorized equipment and supplies can reduce private out-of-pocket spending and caregiver burden.
Who qualifies: IL waiver enrollment and medical/functional need.
How to start: Ask MDRS case management about covered equipment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
IL Transition Assistance
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Funds/services can support a qualifying transition from an institution to the community.
Who qualifies: IL waiver eligibility and approved institutional transition.
How to start: Ask MDRS before discharge whether transition assistance is available.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Medicaid / TBI-SCI
TBI/SCI Waiver
YesHelps pay for: Statewide HCBS for medically stable people with qualifying traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries who otherwise need nursing-facility care.
Who qualifies: Traumatic (not degenerative/congenital/medical-intervention) brain or spinal cord injury; medically stable; Medicaid eligibility and nursing-facility level-of-care criteria apply.
How to start: Request MDRS OSDP screening.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially - attendant choice exists; confirm relationship rules with MDRS
TBI/SCI Attendant Care
YesHelps pay for: Participant-chosen attendant assistance with daily activities.
Who qualifies: TBI/SCI waiver enrollment and authorized need.
How to start: Ask MDRS about attendant selection and enrollment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially - participant chooses attendant; verify family eligibility and provider requirements
TBI/SCI Respite
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Temporary relief when the regular caregiver needs a break or is unavailable.
Who qualifies: TBI/SCI waiver enrollment and plan authorization.
How to start: Request respite through MDRS case management.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage to the primary caregiver
TBI/SCI Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Home modifications can improve access and reduce the amount of physical assistance required.
Who qualifies: TBI/SCI waiver enrollment and assessed accessibility need.
How to start: Request a home-accessibility review through MDRS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
TBI/SCI Specialized Medical Equipment & Supplies
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Assistive equipment and supplies can reduce private costs and support independence.
Who qualifies: TBI/SCI waiver enrollment and authorized need.
How to start: Ask MDRS case management about covered equipment/supplies.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
TBI/SCI Transition Assistance
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Transition supports can help an eligible participant move from institutional care to the community.
Who qualifies: TBI/SCI waiver eligibility plus approved transition.
How to start: Ask MDRS before discharge.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Disability Services
State Attendant Care Program
YesHelps pay for: State-funded personal care for people with severe disabilities who need ADL assistance and cannot obtain duplicate attendant services elsewhere.
Who qualifies: Severe physical or mental impairment causing need for ADL help; cannot be eligible for duplicate attendant-care services through another source.
How to start: Submit an OSDP referral or call MDRS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially - attendant is an individual of the participant’s choosing; verify family relationship rules
State Attendant Care - Participant-Chosen Attendant
YesHelps pay for: Allows the participant to select the individual who provides authorized daily-living assistance.
Who qualifies: Must qualify for State Attendant Care and avoid duplicate-service coverage.
How to start: Ask MDRS how to enroll the chosen attendant.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially - selection is participant-directed; confirm specific relative eligibility
Federal Independent Living Grant
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Grant-funded disability supports can provide assistive aids, DME, home/vehicle modifications and related independence supports when duplicate funding is unavailable.
Who qualifies: Severe impairment substantially limiting employment; cannot receive duplicate services under another program.
How to start: Request services through MDRS OSDP.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Independent Living Grant - DME / Assistive Aids
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Can fund qualifying durable medical equipment and assistive technology that supports daily activities.
Who qualifies: Independent Living Grant eligibility and individualized need; duplicate coverage excluded.
How to start: Ask MDRS to assess DME/assistive technology needs.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Independent Living Grant - Home Modifications
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Can support ramps, door widening and other accessibility modifications that do not increase home square footage.
Who qualifies: Independent Living Grant eligibility; home must be suitable for safe modification.
How to start: Request a home-accessibility assessment through MDRS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Independent Living Grant - Vehicle Modifications
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Can help fund approved vehicle accessibility modifications, reducing mobility and transportation barriers.
Who qualifies: Independent Living Grant eligibility and approved independent-living need; vehicle itself is not purchased by the program.
How to start: Ask MDRS about an assistive-technology/vehicle evaluation.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi TBI/SCI Trust Fund
TBI/SCI Trust Fund Direct Services
Yes / cost offsetHelps pay for: Payer-of-last-resort funding for qualifying Mississippi residents with severe traumatic brain/spinal cord injuries.
Who qualifies: Mississippi resident; severe traumatic TBI/SCI; medically stable; must seek other available resources first. Most individual services have a $50,000 lifetime cap, excluding Transitional Attendant Care and Respite Care.
How to start: Request MDRS Trust Fund screening.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Depends on service; participant chooses transitional attendant
Trust Fund Transitional Attendant Care
YesHelps pay for: Participant-chosen attendant assistance with ADLs for up to 12 months.
Who qualifies: Qualifying Trust Fund client; service is transitional and time-limited to up to 12 months.
How to start: Ask MDRS Trust Fund staff about attendant enrollment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially - client chooses attendant; verify family relationship requirements
Trust Fund Respite Care
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Relief for the regular caregiver or coverage during temporary caregiver absence.
Who qualifies: Qualifying Trust Fund client; up to 288 hours of respite per year.
How to start: Request respite through MDRS Trust Fund.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage to the regular caregiver
Trust Fund Home Modifications
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Accessibility modifications such as ramps and door widening can reduce caregiver burden and improve independence.
Who qualifies: Qualifying Trust Fund client; modifications cannot increase home square footage; payer-of-last-resort rules apply.
How to start: Request an MDRS assessment before starting work.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Trust Fund Equipment / Vehicle Modifications
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Specialized medical equipment and accessible vehicle modifications can reduce out-of-pocket disability-related costs.
Who qualifies: Qualifying Trust Fund client; payer-of-last-resort rules and lifetime cap generally apply.
How to start: Ask MDRS Trust Fund staff to assess equipment/vehicle needs.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Medicaid / ID-DD
ID/DD Waiver
YesHelps pay for: HCBS alternative to ICF/IID placement for people with qualifying intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Who qualifies: Must meet ID/DD program criteria and an eligible Medicaid category, including SSI or income up to 300% of SSI federal benefit rate.
How to start: Contact the Mississippi Department of Mental Health IDD system/regional center for assessment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: May vary by service/provider; confirm whether a relative can be employed for the authorized service
ID/DD Home and Community Supports
YesHelps pay for: In-home/community assistance can support daily living and reduce privately purchased care.
Who qualifies: ID/DD waiver enrollment and person-centered plan authorization.
How to start: Ask the support coordinator about Home and Community Supports.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially depending on provider/service rules; verify relationship restrictions
ID/DD Community Respite
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Respite gives unpaid caregivers temporary relief.
Who qualifies: ID/DD waiver enrollment and authorized respite need.
How to start: Request community respite in the support plan.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage to the primary caregiver
ID/DD In-Home Nursing Respite
Yes - skilled respiteHelps pay for: Nursing respite can cover temporary skilled support in the home.
Who qualifies: ID/DD waiver enrollment; clinical need and plan authorization.
How to start: Ask the support coordinator about in-home nursing respite.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
ID/DD Supported Living / Host Home
Yes / residential supportHelps pay for: Residential/community supports can substitute for more costly institutional placement and reduce family care burden.
Who qualifies: ID/DD waiver enrollment, assessed need and approved living arrangement.
How to start: Discuss supported-living and host-home options with support coordination.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially in some models; verify provider and household-member rules
ID/DD Supported Employment / Job Discovery
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Employment supports may improve income and independence, indirectly reducing family financial burden.
Who qualifies: ID/DD waiver enrollment and employment-related need/goals.
How to start: Ask support coordination about supported employment or job discovery.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
ID/DD Specialized Medical Supplies / Therapies
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Authorized supplies and OT/PT/speech services can reduce out-of-pocket disability-related expenses.
Who qualifies: ID/DD waiver enrollment; medical/functional need and authorization.
How to start: Ask the support coordinator which supplies/therapies are covered.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Medicaid / 1915(i)
1915(i) Community Support Program (CSP)
Yes / community supportHelps pay for: State-plan HCBS for eligible people with intellectual/developmental disabilities who meet program criteria.
Who qualifies: Must meet 1915(i) eligibility and service criteria; operated through the Department of Mental Health.
How to start: Contact DMH/regional IDD system for assessment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Varies by service/provider; confirm worker relationship rules
CSP Supported Living
YesHelps pay for: Supported living can reduce the need for privately funded in-home or residential assistance.
Who qualifies: CSP eligibility and person-centered authorization.
How to start: Ask the DMH support team about Supported Living.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Varies by provider arrangement
CSP Supported Employment
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Employment supports can increase independence and household income.
Who qualifies: CSP eligibility and employment support need.
How to start: Ask about Supported Employment through CSP.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
CSP Day Services / Prevocational Services
Indirect / day supportHelps pay for: Structured daytime and skill-building services can reduce daytime supervision demands at home.
Who qualifies: CSP eligibility and approved service plan.
How to start: Ask the support team about Day Services-Adult or Prevocational Services.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Medicaid / Assisted Living
Assisted Living Waiver
Residential alternativeHelps pay for: Medicaid waiver alternative for adults 21+ who meet nursing-facility level of care and live in an approved personal care home-assisted living setting.
Who qualifies: Age 21+; nursing-facility clinical criteria; SSI or income up to 300% of SSI federal benefit rate; approved PCH-AL residence.
How to start: Ask Medicaid/MAC to compare AL Waiver with home-based waiver options.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct family caregiver payment
AL Waiver Personal Care / Homemaker / Attendant Services
Residential careHelps pay for: Facility-based personal care, homemaker, attendant and medication supports can substitute for privately purchased home care when assisted living is appropriate.
Who qualifies: AL Waiver enrollment and approved participating facility.
How to start: Request an AL waiver screening and participating-facility list.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Medicaid
Medicaid Home Health Services
Yes - skilled home careHelps pay for: Covered home-health visits can offset skilled nursing, therapy, aide and related home-health costs when medically necessary.
Who qualifies: Must have full Medicaid coverage and meet home-health medical-necessity/plan-of-care requirements.
How to start: Ask the treating provider for a Medicaid home-health referral/order.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Medicaid Hospice Benefit
Yes - hospice/home supportHelps pay for: Palliative end-of-life care can include nursing, medical social services, counseling, drugs/supplies and home health aide or homemaker services.
Who qualifies: Terminal illness with physician certification of life expectancy of six months or less; Medicaid hospice rules apply.
How to start: Ask the treating clinician or hospice provider about Medicaid hospice election.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Medicaid / Work Incentive
Working Disabled Medicaid
Indirect / preserves coverageHelps pay for: Allows certain working people with disabilities to retain Medicaid while earning income, preserving access to covered health and potentially waiver services.
Who qualifies: 2026 Working Disabled financial/resource rules apply; resource limit is higher than many ABD groups and premiums may apply on a sliding scale.
How to start: Apply through a Medicaid regional office using Working Disabled rules.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Medicare / Medicaid Cost Offset
Medicare Savings Programs - QMB / SLMB / QI
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Can reduce Medicare premiums and, for QMB, deductibles and coinsurance, freeing household funds for care.
Who qualifies: Medicare Part A eligibility and income limits apply; Mississippi currently states no resource test for QMB, SLMB or QI.
How to start: Apply through Mississippi Medicaid.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Medicaid / Transportation
Non-Emergency Transportation (NET)
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Covered rides to eligible medical appointments can reduce caregiver driving and transportation expenses.
Who qualifies: Medicaid eligibility, covered appointment and broker/plan rules apply.
How to start: Use the Medicaid/plan transportation process before the appointment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Aging Network
Mississippi Access to Care (MAC) Network
Indirect / navigationHelps pay for: No-wrong-door counseling and referral for long-term services, aging, disability and caregiver programs.
Who qualifies: Open to people seeking information about aging/disability supports; specific referred programs have their own eligibility rules.
How to start: Call MAC for screening and local referral.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
AAA Homemaker Services
Yes / homemakerHelps pay for: Local aging-network homemaker help can reduce private-pay household assistance for eligible older adults, subject to local funding and availability.
Who qualifies: Local AAA assessment, age/program criteria and funding availability apply.
How to start: Ask MAC for the Area Agency on Aging serving the person’s county.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct family wage
AAA Home-Delivered Meals
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: At least five frozen meals per week may be available to qualifying older adults unable to prepare food and at risk of institutionalization.
Who qualifies: Local AAA assessment and program capacity; targeted to older adults with functional/nutrition need.
How to start: Contact MAC/local AAA.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
AAA Transportation Assistance
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Local aging-network transportation can reduce family driving and paid-ride costs.
Who qualifies: Local AAA eligibility, trip purpose and funding/provider availability vary by area.
How to start: Ask MAC/local AAA about transportation programs.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Older Adult Legal Assistance / Benefits Advocacy
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Legal and advocacy help can protect benefits, housing and income that help finance care.
Who qualifies: Older-adult eligibility and local program capacity apply.
How to start: Ask MAC/local AAA for legal-assistance referral.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Mississippi Caregiver Support
Mississippi Family Caregiver Support Program
Yes - respite/supportHelps pay for: Information, access assistance, counseling/training, respite and limited supplemental services for family caregivers.
Who qualifies: Generally supports caregivers of a family member age 60+ and certain older relative caregivers; local AAA funding/assessment applies.
How to start: Call MAC for caregiver-program intake.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage to the regular caregiver
Mississippi Dementia Care Program
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Provides caregiver support plus approximately 27 hours of respite care per month for 12 consecutive months for eligible dementia/cognitive-impairment caregiving situations.
Who qualifies: Person with Alzheimer’s disease/related dementia or cognitive impairment and an informal caregiver; program intake and capacity apply.
How to start: Call MAC or email the Dementia Care Program.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage to the informal caregiver
Lifespan Respite Voucher Program
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: When funded/available, respite vouchers can pay another caregiver so an unpaid family caregiver can take a break.
Who qualifies: For unpaid caregivers of a dependent person with significant disability/chronic illness; voucher availability is limited. Older published MDHS guidance described $300 initial/repeat and $400 emergency vouchers; verify current amounts before relying on them.
How to start: Call MAC to confirm whether vouchers are currently available and current amounts.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Cannot pay the family caregiver directly
Medicare Counseling
Mississippi SHIP
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Free, unbiased Medicare counseling can identify Medicare, Medigap, Part D and Medicaid savings that reduce care-related household expenses.
Who qualifies: Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers seeking coverage/benefits counseling.
How to start: Call SHIP/MAC for one-on-one counseling.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Medicare
Medicare Home Health Benefit
Yes - limited skilled home careHelps pay for: Part A and/or Part B may cover intermittent skilled nursing, therapy and limited home-health aide services when eligibility rules are met.
Who qualifies: Must meet Medicare home-health eligibility, including need for skilled services and other coverage requirements; not a general long-term custodial-care benefit.
How to start: Ask the clinician to certify/order home health and use a Medicare-certified agency.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Medicare / Prescription Costs
Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Reduces Medicare Part D premiums, deductibles and prescription copays, freeing income for home-care needs.
Who qualifies: Income/resource rules or automatic eligibility through certain Medicaid/SSI pathways.
How to start: Apply through Social Security or ask SHIP for help.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Food Cost Offset
Mississippi SNAP / ESAP / MSCAP
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Food benefits can reduce grocery costs; Mississippi also has simplified pathways for some older adults and SSI recipients.
Who qualifies: Household income/resource and program rules apply; ESAP/MSCAP have additional eligibility criteria.
How to start: Apply through AccessMS or a county MDHS office.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Emergency / Utility Assistance
LIHEAP / Energy Crisis Assistance
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Helps eligible households with home-energy bills and crises; elderly and disabled households receive priority among qualifying applicants.
Who qualifies: Generally household income at or below 60% of state median income plus program rules; funding is limited.
How to start: Submit a pre-application through AccessMS and complete the Community Action Agency process.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Tax / Housing Relief
Mississippi Homestead Exemption - Age 65 / Total Disability
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Qualified homeowners age 65+ or totally disabled are exempt from property tax on the first $7,500 of assessed homestead value; this can free funds for care.
Who qualifies: Own and occupy the home as primary residence on January 1; apply with county tax assessor during filing period and provide age/disability proof.
How to start: Apply with the county Tax Assessor, generally January 1-April 1.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Benefits
VA Homemaker & Home Health Aide
YesHelps pay for: VA may authorize community-based aides to help an eligible Veteran with ADLs and selected daily tasks at home.
Who qualifies: VA health care eligibility, clinical need, authorization and local availability; copays may apply. Ask the Veteran’s VA primary care/social work team for assessment and authorization.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Homemaker & Home Health Aide.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Veteran-Directed Care
YesHelps pay for: Flexible self-directed budget for eligible Veterans needing personal care; the Veteran can choose workers and services within program rules.
Who qualifies: VA enrollment/community-care eligibility, clinical need and local Veteran-Directed Care availability. Ask the VA care team whether VDC is available in the Veteran’s Mississippi service area.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Veteran-Directed Care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes - family/friends may often be hired subject to local program rules
VA Skilled Home Health
Yes - skilled careHelps pay for: VA may purchase skilled nursing, therapy and related home-health services from authorized community providers.
Who qualifies: Clinical need, VA eligibility/authorization and provider availability. Request through the VA care team.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Skilled Home Health.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Respite Care
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: VA may provide in-home, adult-day or facility respite to give caregivers a break.
Who qualifies: VA enrollment, clinical need and local availability/authorization. Ask VA social work or caregiver support about respite.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Respite Care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage
VA Home-Based Primary Care
Yes - clinical home careHelps pay for: Interdisciplinary VA primary care delivered in the home for Veterans with complex chronic conditions who have difficulty traveling to clinic.
Who qualifies: VA enrollment, clinical eligibility and local program availability. Ask VA primary care/geriatrics whether HBPC is appropriate.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Home-Based Primary Care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Adult Day Health Care
Indirect / day careHelps pay for: Therapeutic health and social services in a day setting can reduce the number of hours a caregiver must provide at home.
Who qualifies: VA eligibility, clinical need and local program/community-care availability. Ask the VA social worker or geriatrics team about adult day health care.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Adult Day Health Care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
Yes - caregiver stipend/supportHelps pay for: For qualifying Veterans, PCAFC may provide an eligible primary family caregiver a monthly stipend plus training and other supports.
Who qualifies: Veteran and caregiver must meet PCAFC clinical/service-connection and program requirements; approval is not based solely on diagnosis. Apply through VA Caregiver Support / VA Form 10-10CG process.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes - qualifying primary family caregiver
VA Aid & Attendance / Housebound Pension Additions
Cash benefit can help pay careHelps pay for: Additional monthly pension amounts may help eligible wartime Veterans or survivors pay for personal care and other living expenses.
Who qualifies: Must first qualify for VA pension/survivors pension and meet Aid & Attendance or Housebound criteria. File a pension/A&A claim with VA; use an accredited representative if desired.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Aid & Attendance / Housebound Pension Additions.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes - beneficiary controls cash, subject to pension rules
VA Medical Foster Home - Jackson
Residential alternativeHelps pay for: Home-like long-term care option for disabled Veterans needing a caregiver; the Veteran lives in a certified caregiver’s home and receives VA home-based primary care.
Who qualifies: Program availability, VA clinical eligibility and financial agreement with caregiver; Jackson program is active. Ask the Jackson VA Medical Foster Home coordinator or social worker.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Medical Foster Home - Jackson.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Caregiver is paid by the Veteran under a private agreement, not as a VA wage
Jackson VA Caregiver Support Program
Indirect / navigationHelps pay for: Local caregiver coordinators can connect Mississippi Veterans/families to respite, home-care, PCAFC and other VA caregiver benefits.
Who qualifies: Veteran/caregiver eligibility varies by referred program. Call the Jackson Caregiver Support Team.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Jackson VA Caregiver Support Program.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: May lead to PCAFC or VDC family payment
Gulf Coast VA Caregiver Support Program
Indirect / navigationHelps pay for: Local caregiver coordinators support Veterans and caregivers along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and connect them to VA in-home and caregiver programs.
Who qualifies: Veteran/caregiver eligibility varies by referred program. Call the Gulf Coast Caregiver Support Program.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Gulf Coast VA Caregiver Support Program.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: May lead to PCAFC or VDC family payment
Mississippi Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption
Indirect cost offsetHelps pay for: Mississippi provides full ad valorem homestead tax exemption for qualifying honorably discharged Veterans with service-connected total disability and extends it to qualifying unremarried surviving spouses.
Who qualifies: Must meet Mississippi statutory Veteran/disability/homestead requirements and file locally as required. Contact a county tax assessor or Mississippi Veterans Affairs Benefits Specialist.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Mississippi Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Where Mississippi Families Can Start
Not sure where to begin? Match your situation to a contact below.
Statewide LTSS, aging, caregiver, SHIP and local AAA navigation
Mississippi Access to Care (MAC) Center
Medicaid eligibility, applications, covered services and regional-office referral
Mississippi Division of Medicaid
In-person Medicaid applications including aged/blind/disabled and Working Disabled categories
Medicaid Regional Offices
Independent Living/TBI-SCI waivers, State Attendant Care, TBI/SCI Trust Fund and disability supports
Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS)
ID/DD Waiver and 1915(i) Community Support Program assessment/referral
Mississippi Department of Mental Health - IDD Services
Medicare, Medicare Savings, Part D/Extra Help and coverage counseling
Mississippi SHIP
Dementia caregiver support and approximately 27 hours/month of respite for 12 months
Mississippi Dementia Care Program
SNAP, LIHEAP and other human-services applications/navigation
MDHS / AccessMS
Age/disability homestead exemption and Veteran homestead exemption filing
County Tax Assessor
VA caregiver, respite, home-care and PCAFC navigation for Jackson-region Veterans
Jackson VA Caregiver Support
VA caregiver, respite and home-care navigation for Gulf Coast Veterans
Gulf Coast VA Caregiver Support
Accredited state Veteran benefits help and state Veteran benefit navigation
Mississippi Veterans Affairs
Before You Rely on Any Payment Source
Planning Point
Why It Matters
E&D is the primary older-adult home-care waiver
Mississippi’s Elderly & Disabled Waiver is the main Medicaid HCBS track for adults 21+ who meet nursing-facility level of care. It includes personal care, in-home respite, meals and other supports, but the public program materials describe enrolled providers rather than a broad cash-and-counseling family-pay model.
MDRS offers clearer participant-chosen-attendant pathways
The Independent Living Waiver, TBI/SCI Waiver and State Attendant Care Program all describe attendant care chosen by the participant. This makes MDRS especially important when the goal is to select a known caregiver, but confirm whether the specific family relationship is payable before assuming a relative can be hired.
State Attendant Care is a payer of last resort for personal care
State Attendant Care is for people with severe disabilities who need ADL help and are not eligible for duplicate attendant-care services through another source. Screen Medicaid waiver eligibility first so the state-funded program is not treated as interchangeable with Medicaid.
TBI/SCI Trust Fund has unusually concrete respite and attendant limits
The Trust Fund provides participant-chosen Transitional Attendant Care for up to 12 months and up to 288 respite hours per year. Most other individual Trust Fund services are subject to a $50,000 lifetime cap, while Transitional Attendant Care and Respite Care are excluded from that cap.
Do not confuse the TBI/SCI Waiver with the TBI/SCI Trust Fund
The waiver is Medicaid HCBS and requires Medicaid/level-of-care eligibility. The Trust Fund is a separate Mississippi payer-of-last-resort program for severe traumatic brain/spinal cord injury and can fund services even when waiver funding is not the applicable route, subject to its own criteria.
IL and TBI/SCI require medical stability
MDRS and Medicaid describe medical-stability requirements for these waivers. A person in an active life-threatening condition or needing certain intensive monitoring may not meet that requirement until stabilized.
E&D and other long-term-care programs require formal level-of-care screening
Mississippi uses a pre-admission/long-term-care screening process. Do not infer waiver eligibility from age or diagnosis alone; ADL/IADL, medical, cognitive and other factors determine level of care.
Mississippi Dementia Care is a meaningful respite layer
Current MDHS guidance says eligible caregivers can receive approximately 27 hours of respite per month for 12 consecutive months. It can complement, but should not be assumed to replace, a Medicaid waiver or long-term paid-care plan.
Treat Lifespan Respite voucher amounts as re-verification items
Published MDHS guidance describes $300 initial, $300 repeat and $400 emergency vouchers and states they cannot pay the family caregiver directly. Because voucher funding is limited and the current caregiver page emphasizes other programs, confirm current availability and amounts with MAC before relying on them.
Medicare Savings Programs are especially favorable on resources
Mississippi currently states that QMB, SLMB and QI have no resource test. Income limits still apply, and QI funding is limited, so screening Medicare beneficiaries can free meaningful monthly cash for home-care expenses.
Mississippi’s 2026 Medicaid materials are active and should override older brochures
The state has 2026 Working Disabled guidance, Medicare cost-sharing materials and February 2026 HCBS fee schedules. Use current web guidance rather than relying on older waiver brochures when limits or processes conflict.
VA network region changes at the Mississippi border
Mississippi is VA Community Care Network Region 3, administered by Optum Serve. Jackson and Gulf Coast VA systems both offer caregiver support; which system is the best access point depends on where the Veteran receives VA care.
Program rules, income limits, and availability change over time and can vary by county. Confirm current details with the program directly, or ask a home care provider in Mississippi to help you navigate the application process.
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