Who can pay — and who can get paid to provide care
Programs that help a family afford care at home — including ones that pay a family member to provide it. Each card describes how the program is structured and the local office to call. This is information, not advice: we don't determine whether you qualify — the listed office or a free counselor does.
Get paid to provide care
3- Who
- California residents who are aged, blind, or disabled, are eligible for Medi-Cal, and live in their own home. A county social worker assesses needed hours via a home visit.
- Pays
- Pays an hourly wage (county rate) to a hired in-home provider; the recipient may hire their own provider, who can be a family member. The state issues provider paychecks.
- Apply
- Submit form SOC 295 to your county IHSS office; the county directory is on the CDSS site.
- Sonoma County Human Services Dept — Adult & Aging Division (IHSS) · Sonoma
- Who
- Eligible Veterans (generally a 70%+ combined service-connected disability rating, enrolled in VA health care, needing at least 6 months of continuous personal care) and a designated primary family caregiver age 18+.
- Pays
- Pays a monthly stipend to the primary family caregiver (rate set by the OPM GS-4 step-1 locality scale divided by 12, at a level based on the Veteran's assessed care needs); non-taxable.
- Apply
- Submit VA Form 10-10CG (jointly with the Veteran) online, by mail to the Evidence Intake Center, or via a VA medical center caregiver support team; questions to the Caregiver Support Line.
- VA Caregiver Support Line (national)
- Who
- Enrolled Veterans of any age who are eligible for community care, meet clinical criteria for the service, and live where VDC is available; no service-connected rating required.
- Pays
- Provides a managed monthly budget the Veteran (or representative) uses to hire their own workers for personal care / activities of daily living; family members and neighbors may be hired.
- Apply
- Talk with your VA social worker to confirm local availability and enroll.
- VA Caregiver Support Line (national entry point for caregiver questions)
Medi-Cal community supports
1- Who
- Eligible Medi-Cal managed-care members whose health-related social needs can be met by these optional substitute services; availability depends on which supports the member's plan elects to offer.
- Pays
- Covers optional services such as personal care/homemaker, respite, nursing-facility transition to community, community transition services, medically tailored meals, and housing supports.
- Apply
- Contact your Medi-Cal managed-care plan's member services to ask which Community Supports it offers and request a referral.
- Partnership HealthPlan of California — Member Services (serves Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Marin)
Pension / income support
1- Who
- Veterans or surviving spouses who already qualify for a VA pension and need help with daily activities, are bedridden, are in a nursing home due to disability, or have severe vision loss.
- Pays
- Adds a monthly amount on top of the basic VA pension for those needing regular aid and attendance.
- Apply
- File VA Form 21-2680 by mail to the Pension Intake Center (PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365), online, or in person at a VA regional office.
- VA Pension benefits (national)
Help paying for Medicare / Medi-Cal
2- Who
- Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources who reside in the 50 states or DC. SSA determines eligibility from income and resource information on the application; some people qualify automatically via Medicaid or an MSP.
- Pays
- Lowers Medicare Part D prescription drug costs, including premiums, deductibles, and copays.
- Apply
- Apply online at ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help, by phone with SSA, or at a local Social Security office (Form SSA-1020).
- Social Security Administration
- Who
- Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources; income/asset limits vary by program tier (QMB lowest, then SLMB, then QI) and by state. Structure is informational only — eligibility is determined by the state agency.
- Pays
- QMB pays Part A and Part B premiums plus deductibles, coinsurance, and copays; SLMB and QI pay the Part B premium only. MSP enrollment also confers Part D Extra Help.
- Apply
- Apply through the state Medicaid (Medi-Cal) office, in California via your county; entry point and free counseling via HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.
- California Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP), CA Department of Aging
Copay & disease-fund assistance
3- Who
- Patients with valid medical insurance covering at least 50% of treatment, treated in the U.S. for an FDA-approved medication for a covered chronic/life-altering disease, generally with household income at or below 500% FPL. Each disease fund's status shifts open-to-closed throughout the year.
- Pays
- Copay and premium assistance, plus travel and diagnostic-testing assistance for covered conditions.
- Apply
- Check covered/open disease funds at mygooddays.org/patients/diseases-covered and apply at mygooddays.org/apply or by phone.
- Good Days
- Who
- Patients treated in the U.S. for a disease HealthWell currently covers, with insurance covering the treatment and income within the fund's FPL guidelines. Funds are listed as Open, Closed, or Re-enrollment-only and change as funding is depleted and replenished.
- Pays
- Copays, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs tied to the covered condition; grants run for a rolling 12 months and can be renewed if funding is available.
- Apply
- Check open/closed fund status and apply at healthwellfoundation.org/disease-funds or by phone.
- HealthWell Foundation
- Who
- Patients in active treatment for a disease named in one of PAN's disease-specific funds, with insurance covering the medication and income at or below the FPL threshold set by that fund. Each fund has its own criteria and may be open or closed at any time.
- Pays
- Out-of-pocket medication copays, coinsurance, and deductibles (and some premium/transportation costs in select funds), up to an annual maximum set per fund.
- Apply
- Check fund status and apply at panfoundation.org/find-disease-fund or by phone; sign up to be notified if a fund is currently closed.
- Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation
These programs and their rules change on a roughly annual cadence; charity disease-funds open and close throughout the year. We re-verify on a schedule and show how recently each was checked — always confirm current rules and your own eligibility with the listed office.
Forms & applications
The paperwork behind these programs — what each form gets you, who fills it out, and where to file it. We link you to the official government page; we don't host or fill out the form, and we never decide whether you qualify.
Get paid to provide care
Part of getting In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) approved — the program that can pay a family member or friend to help an eligible person with daily care at home. A licensed provider signs this form to confirm the person needs help.
- Who files it
- The person who needs care applies through their county IHSS office; their doctor or nurse practitioner completes this certification.
- How to file
- Start the IHSS application with your county IHSS office (linked below), then have your provider complete SOC 295 and return it to the county.
Checked 2026-06-09 — always download the current version from the official page.
Get covered / help with costs
California's Medicaid program — can cover skilled nursing, long-term care, in-home services, and more for people with limited income. Applying also opens the door to programs like IHSS and the Medicare Savings Programs.
- Who files it
- The patient or a family member/authorized helper. A free county eligibility worker or a health navigator can help you complete it.
- How to file
- Apply online at BenefitsCal, by phone, or in person at your county social-services office. A paper application is also available through the county.
Checked 2026-06-09 — always download the current version from the official page.
Lowers what you pay for Medicare Part D prescription drugs — premiums, deductibles, and copays — for people with limited income and resources.
- Who files it
- The Medicare beneficiary or someone helping them.
- How to file
- Apply online with Social Security, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office. A free HICAP counselor can help.
Checked 2026-06-09 — always download the current version from the official page.
For veterans & their families
Applies to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers — which can provide a monthly stipend, training, and support to a family caregiver of an eligible, seriously injured veteran.
- Who files it
- The veteran and the family caregiver, together.
- How to file
- Apply online at VA.gov, by mail, or with help from a VA Caregiver Support Coordinator at your VA medical center.
Checked 2026-06-09 — always download the current version from the official page.
Supports a claim for Aid & Attendance — added monthly pension money for a wartime veteran (or surviving spouse) who needs help with daily activities or is housebound.
- Who files it
- The veteran or surviving spouse; a physician completes the examination portion.
- How to file
- Have your doctor complete the exam form, then submit it with your pension claim to the VA. A County Veterans Service Office can help at no cost.
Checked 2026-06-09 — always download the current version from the official page.
Enrolls an eligible veteran in VA health care — which can cover follow-up care, home health, and equipment after a hospital stay.
- Who files it
- The veteran or an authorized helper.
- How to file
- Apply online at VA.gov, by phone at 1-877-222-8387, by mail, or in person at a VA medical center.
Checked 2026-06-09 — always download the current version from the official page.
Put care wishes on the record
Turns a seriously-ill person's care wishes (such as CPR, hospital transfer, and treatment intensity) into medical orders that travel with them between home, hospital, and skilled nursing.
- Who files it
- The patient (or their decision-maker) together with their physician, who signs it. It's a voluntary conversation, not required for discharge.
- How to file
- Complete and sign it with your doctor or the discharge team; keep the signed form with the patient and give copies to caregivers and facilities.
Checked 2026-06-09 — always download the current version from the official page.