Financial assistance is available to family caregivers in the state of Michigan to ease the expenses associated with caring for a loved one. In Michigan, family caregivers provide $15.1 billion worth of unpaid care annually, meaning all that hard work goes almost completely uncompensated.

Aidaly advocates for family caregivers to receive adequate support, allowing you to take care of your loved one to the best of your ability. Continue reading to find state-funded programs and tax benefits you may be eligible for in Michigan. 

{{CTA}}

Tax Benefits

Most caregivers are taxpayers, so the government will often give financial assistance by helping out with taxes. Tax credits and deductions can put money back into your pocket, lower what you owe on taxes, or even give money if you owe no taxes. Read on to find out more.

The Child Tax Credit and the Tax Credit for Other Dependents

People who claim their children or other dependents on their federal tax return can receive up to $2,000 for each qualified dependent. These credits are fully refundable, which means you can get the money even if you owe no taxes. You must meet certain income requirements to receive the credits. To learn more and discover if you are eligible, click here.

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

If you paid someone to care for your loved one while at work or looking for work, you could get money back even if you owe no taxes. You can claim up to $8,000 of what you paid for daycare, day camps, babysitting, adult day programs, or caregiving while you were working or looking for work. Eligibility criteria is available here.

Medical and Dental Expenses Tax Deductions

You can deduct money from your taxable income and owe less on your taxes if you spent more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) on medical or dental expenses that weren't paid back by your insurance. You can count any money you spend on eligible expenses for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents. Your total medical and dental spending can add up quickly. Click here to see if your expenses meet the requirements. 

Medicaid and Other State Benefits in Michigan

Over 2.8 million people living in Michigan are enrolled in Michigan’s Medicaid programs, which provides health insurance, resources, and other supportive services. If your loved one qualifies for Medicaid, they may qualify for in-home services, respite care, and may even be able to get a family member paid to help. Because Michigan follows a ‘No Wrong Door’ policy, everyone who is accepted to any state program will be referred to any other program that can help them. Read on to learn more about Medicaid and other benefits in Michigan.

The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver and Other Waivers

Medicaid Waivers are special programs for people who need help with daily living tasks due to age, disability, or chronic health needs. Michigan offers a number of waiver programs that provide health insurance and also special services like home care, day programs, and even meal delivery. The largest waiver program in Michigan is known as MI Choice (pronounced “My Choice”), which allows eligible people to pick the services that matter most to them. MI Choice and other waivers are administered by the 16 Area Agencies on Aging in Michigan, so the best way to learn more is to find and contact your local Area Agency on Aging here. 

Family Support Subsidy (FSS)

The Family Support Subsidy is a state-funded program separate from Medicaid, which means that it is available to people who aren’t enrolled in Medicaid. The FPP provides a $300.36 monthly subsidy to families caring for children with developmental disabilities to help cover their needs. You can learn more and apply by visiting the Department of Health and Human Services here.

Veterans Benefits

In the U.S. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several programs which help Veterans, their surviving spouses, and their caregivers. The VA is federal, but resources vary from state to state. Read more about Michigan’s state-funded benefits here.

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

The Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance programs provide funding in the form of an increased monthly pension amount for eligible Veterans. The pension can assist in making day-to-day living easier or be used to pay for caregiving services, which can be provided by family members. The application process is lengthy, but the pension will be back-paid if approved. To assess eligibility and apply, click here.

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

With the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, you can earn a monthly stipend of up to $2,750 per month as a family caregiver to a Veteran who has a service-related disability or illness. In addition, you can access training and counseling programs to support your caregiving services. Check to see if you’re eligible here. 

Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services 

The Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) program allows Veterans to be in control of their own long-term services and supports and is designed to enable them to continue living independently at home. Through the program, eligible Veterans determine their own budgets, decide what services they need, and hire their own workers — which can be family members. Be aware that not all counties in Michigan are part of this program, but you can assess eligibility and availability here.

‍

Family caregiving can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. As mentioned above, there is financial support available in Michigan to help reduce the cost of care-related costs — it’s just about finding the right support network. With Aidaly, unpaid family caregiving will be a thing of the past. Join today to find out more.